rooting

¹

[ roo-ting, root-ing ]

noun

1. a small or newly growing root of a plant, especially as used in plant propagation:

   Cuttings, rootings, and bulbs can be sourced from your local garden store.

2. the process of propagating plants from small sections of a root or rhizome or by forcing the growth of new roots:

   Most plant rootings can be done in water.

   A long, supple lower limb is carefully bent so it touches the ground and stripped of leaves and small shoots where the rooting is to take place.

3. the act or process of growing roots:

   Simply by adding compost to the soil you will aerate it and improve the rooting and growth of your shrubs and trees.

4. the act or process of implanting or stabilizing something, as though it were a plant root:

   The above-ground installation takes place after the rooting of the footing sections.

5. the act or process of firmly fixing or establishing something, or the state of being firmly fixed or established:

   The rooting of a person's attention in the present moment allows flotation to have a similar effect to that of meditation.

   Our teaching methods clarify concepts and provide students with a rooting in real business practices.

6. the state of being the source, origin, or basis of something:

   For a concept to have meaning it must have some rooting in our experience, at least by analogy.

7. Digital Technology. the act or process of gaining access to or manipulating the operating system of an electronic device, as a smartphone, tablet, or gaming system:

   The rooting is done in three steps, and the tablet will reboot at the end of each step.

adjective

1. of or relating to the roots or rhizomes of plants:

   The rooting system consists of a short, thick taproot and vigorous, rhizomatous, creeping roots.

2. of or relating to the propagation of plants by growing them from pieces of roots:

   Keep the rooting media evenly moist, but never soggy.

3. Digital Technology. of or relating to gaining access to or manipulating the operating system of an electronic device, as in order to alter system files or settings:

   The rooting process involves the modification of system files that communicate directly with the device's hardware.

rooting

²

[ roo-ting, root-ing ]

noun

1. the act or result of digging up or turning over soil, especially with the snout:

   The nature guides say there are no wild boar here, but we have found clear evidence of rootings, and we’re backed up by local sighting reports.

2. the act of searching for or unearthing something: .

   All inquiries, charges, rootings through the evidence, and rehashings of the past were abandoned; the country moved on

adjective

1. having to do with turning over or digging up soil:

   The rooting activities of armadillos can damage the below-ground portions of native vegetation.

rooting

³

[ roo-ting, root-ing ]

noun

1. the act of cheering on or supporting a person or team (often used attributively):

   In spite of all the rooting and automatic qualification for being the host country, the United States did not get beyond the second round.

   The rooting section for the young patient includes her parents and her 10-year-old brother.

Word History and Origins

Origin of rooting¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; root ¹( def ) + -ing ¹( def ) for the noun senses; root ¹( def ) + -ing ²( def ) for the adjective senses

Origin of rooting²

First recorded in 1570–80; root ²( def ) + -ing ¹( def ) for the noun senses; root ²( def ) + -ing ²( def ) for the adjective senses

Origin of rooting³

root ³( def ) + -ing ¹( def )

Example Sentences

In a Thursday episode, Jones called for a series of trials aimed at rooting out Democrats from society, noting the plan was “being prepared right now.”

From Salon

He tweeted about his experience two hours after posting a video of himself sharing his excitement for Game 5, rooting for the Yankees and wearing a hat with the team’s logo.

From Los Angeles Times

“Me and his three grandsons all rooting for the Dodgers.”

From Los Angeles Times

We, as viewers, may not necessarily be rooting for you.

From Salon

I hate to rain on Major League Baseball’s parade, but rooting for the Dodgers or Yankees is akin to cheering for Amazon or Microsoft.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• acclaim
• accolade
• kudos
• ovation
• praise
• standing ovation