root

¹

[ root, root ]

noun

1. a part of the body of a plant that develops, typically, from the radicle and grows downward into the soil, anchoring the plant and absorbing nutriment and moisture.
2. a similar organ developed from some other part of a plant, as one of those by which ivy clings to its support.
3. any underground part of a plant, as a rhizome.
4. something resembling or suggesting the root of a plant in position or function:

   roots of wires and cables.

5. the embedded or basal portion of a hair, tooth, nail, nerve, etc.
6. the fundamental or essential part:

   the root of a matter.

   Synonyms: foundation, base

7. the source or origin of a thing:

   The love of money is the root of all evil.

   Synonyms: originator, derivation, wellspring, spring, fountainhead, fount, rise, beginning

8. a person or family as the source of offspring or descendants.

   Synonyms: forefather, forebear(s), ancestor(s), progenitor, parent

9. an offshoot or scion.
10. Mathematics.
    1. Also called nth root. a quantity that, when raised to the nth power (multiplied by itself n times), produces a given quantity:

       The number 2 is the square root of 4, the cube root of 8, and the fourth root of 16.

    2. a value of the argument of a function for which the function takes the value zero.
11. Computers.
    1. Also called root di·rec·to·ry. the topmost directory of a hierarchical file system.
    2. the UNIX account, having the username “root,” that allows administrator privileges.
12. Grammar.
    1. a morpheme that underlies an inflectional or derivational paradigm, as dance, the root in danced, dancer, or ten-, the root of Latin tendere “to stretch.”
    2. such a form reconstructed for a parent language, as *sed-, the hypothetical Proto-Indo-European root meaning “sit.”
13. roots,
    1. a person's original or true home, environment, and culture:

       He's lived in New York for twenty years, but his roots are in France.

    2. the personal relationships, affinity for a locale, habits, and the like, that make a country, region, city, or town one's true home:

       He lived in Tulsa for a few years, but never established any roots there.

    3. personal identification with a culture, religion, etc., seen as promoting the development of the character or the stability of society as a whole.
14. Music.
    1. the fundamental tone of a compound tone or of a series of harmonies.
    2. the lowest tone of a chord when arranged as a series of thirds; the fundamental.
15. Machinery.
    1. (in a screw or other threaded object) the narrow inner surface between threads. Compare crest ( def 18 ), flank ( def 7 ).
    2. (in a gear) the narrow inner surface between teeth.
16. Australian Informal. an act of sexual intercourse.
17. Shipbuilding. the inner angle of an angle iron.

verb (used with object)

1. to fix by or as if by roots:

   We were rooted to the spot by surprise.

2. to implant or establish deeply:

   Good manners were rooted in him like a second nature.

3. to pull, tear, or dig up by the roots (often followed by up or out ).
4. to remove completely; extirpate; exterminate (often followed by up or out ):

   to root out crime.

   Synonyms: eliminate, eradicate, obliterate, wipe out

5. Digital Technology.
   1. to gain access to the operating system of (a smartphone, tablet, gaming console, etc.), as to alter system files or settings. Compare jailbreak ( def 3 ).
   2. to install a rootkit on (a computer, electronic device, etc.).

verb (used without object)

1. to become fixed or established.
2. Digital Technology. to manipulate the operating system of a smartphone, tablet, etc. Compare jailbreak ( def 4 ).

root

²

[ root, root ]

verb (used without object)

1. to turn up the soil with the snout, as swine.
2. to poke, pry, or search, as if to find something:

   to root around in a drawer for loose coins.

verb (used with object)

1. to turn over with the snout (often followed by up ).
2. to unearth; bring to light (often followed by up ).

root

³

[ rootor, sometimes, root ]

verb (used without object)

1. to encourage a team or contestant by cheering or applauding enthusiastically.

   Synonyms: support, boost, clap, applaud, cheer

2. to lend moral support:

   The whole group will be rooting for him.

   Synonyms: espouse, favor, advocate, champion, second, back

Root

⁴

[ root ]

noun

1. El·i·hu [el, -, uh, -hyoo], 1845–1937, U.S. lawyer and statesman: Nobel Peace Prize 1912.
2. John Well·born [wel, -bern], 1851–91, U.S. architect.

root

¹

verb

1. informal.
   intrusually foll byfor to give support to (a contestant, team, etc), as by cheering

root

²

/ ruːt /

noun

1. 1. the organ of a higher plant that anchors the rest of the plant in the ground, absorbs water and mineral salts from the soil, and does not bear leaves or buds
   2. (loosely) any of the branches of such an organ
2. any plant part, such as a rhizome or tuber, that is similar to a root in structure, function, or appearance
3. 1. the essential, fundamental, or primary part or nature of something

      your analysis strikes at the root of the problem

   2. ( as modifier )

      the root cause of the problem

4. anatomy the embedded portion of a tooth, nail, hair, etc
5. origin or derivation, esp as a source of growth, vitality, or existence
6. plural a person's sense of belonging in a community, place, etc, esp the one in which he was born or brought up
7. an ancestor or antecedent
8. Bible a descendant
9. the form of a word that remains after removal of all affixes; a morpheme with lexical meaning that is not further subdivisible into other morphemes with lexical meaning Compare stem 1
10. maths a number or quantity that when multiplied by itself a certain number of times equals a given number or quantity

    3 is a cube root of 27

11. Also calledsolution maths a number that when substituted for the variable satisfies a given equation

    2 is a root of x³ – 2x – 4 = 0

12. music (in harmony) the note forming the foundation of a chord
13. slang.
    sexual intercourse
14. root and branch
    radical
    1. adverb entirely; completely; utterly
    2. adjective thorough; radical; complete

verb

1. Alsotake root intr to put forth or establish a root and begin to grow
2. Alsotake root intr to become established, embedded, or effective
3. tr to fix or embed with or as if with a root or roots
4. slang.
   to have sexual intercourse (with)

root

³

/ ruːt /

verb

1. (of a pig) to burrow in or dig up the earth in search of food, using the snout
2. informal.
   foll byabout, around, in etc to search vigorously but unsystematically

root

/ ro̅o̅t,rt /

1. A plant part that usually grows underground, secures the plant in place, absorbs minerals and water, and stores food manufactured by leaves and other plant parts. Roots grow in a root system. Eudicots and magnoliids have a central, longer, and larger taproot with many narrower lateral roots branching off, while monocots have a mass of threadlike fibrous roots , which are roughly the same length and remain close to the surface of the soil. In vascular plants, roots usually consist of a central cylinder of vascular tissue, surrounded by the pericycle and endodermis, then a thick layer of cortex, and finally an outer epidermis or (in woody plants) periderm. Only finer roots (known as feeder roots) actively take up water and minerals, generally in the uppermost meter of soil. These roots absorb minerals primarily through small epidermal structures known as root hairs. In certain plants, adventitious roots grow out from the stem above ground as aerial roots or prop roots, bending down into the soil, to facilitate the exchange of gases or increase support. Certain plants (such as the carrot and beet) have fleshy storage roots with abundant parenchyma in their vascular tissues.
2. See also fibrous root
3. Any of various other plant parts that grow underground, especially an underground stem such as a corm, rhizome, or tuber.
4. The part of a tooth that is embedded in the jaw and not covered by enamel.
5. Mathematics.
   1. A number that, when multiplied by itself a given number of times, produces a specified number. For example, since 2 × 2 × 2 × 2 = 16, 2 is a fourth root of 16.
   2. A solution to an equation. For example, a root of the equation x ² − 4 = 0 is 2, since 2 ² − 4 = 0.

root

¹

1. The part of a tooth below the gum. The root anchors the tooth to the jawbone.

root

²

1. In biology , the part of a plant that grows downward and holds the plant in place, absorbs water and minerals from the soil , and often stores food. The main root of a plant is called the primary root; others are called secondary roots. The hard tip is called the root cap, which protects the growing cells behind it. Root hairs increase the root's absorbing surface.

Derived Forms

• ˈrooter, noun
• ˈrootˌlike, adjective
• ˈrooty, adjective
• ˈrooter, noun
• ˈrootiness, noun
• ˈrooter, noun

Other Words From

• root·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of root¹

First recorded before 1150; Middle English noun rote, roote, rowte, from late Old English rōt, from Old Norse rōt “root; cause, origin”; akin to Old English wyrt “plant, herb,” German Wurzel, Latin rādīx, Greek rhíza; the verb is derivative of the noun; radix, rhizome, wort ²( def )

Origin of root²

First recorded in 1530–40; variant of obsolete wroot ( Middle English wroten, Old English wrōtan, akin to wrōt “a snout”)

Origin of root³

An Americanism first recorded in 1885–90; perhaps variant of rout ⁴

Word History and Origins

Origin of root¹

C19: perhaps a variant of Scottish rout to make a loud noise, from Old Norse rauta to roar

Origin of root²

Old English rōt , from Old Norse; related to Old English wyrt wort

Origin of root³

C16: changed (through influence of root ¹) from earlier wroot , from Old English wrōtan ; related to Old English wrōt snout, Middle Dutch wrōte mole

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. root and branch, utterly; entirely:

   to destroy something root and branch.

2. take root,
   1. to send out roots; begin to grow.
   2. to become fixed or established:

      The prejudices of parents usually take root in their children.

More idioms and phrases containing root

• put down roots
• take root

Example Sentences

The Public Advocate Office argued that might allow for grasses and non-native species, which are much more fire-prone, to take root.

From Voice of San Diego

Finally, Dame Judi Dench was nominated for a 2013 Oscar for “Philomena,” a moving fact-based dramedy rooted in the horrific scandal of the Magdalen Sisters in Ireland.

From Washington Blade

Their sense of powerlessness, whether real or imagined, is at the root of their despair.

From Fortune

The “sponge” holds moisture within itself—as sponges do—keeping that moisture from filtering down deeper where it would no longer reach plants’ roots, and enhancing the effects of fertilizer.

From Singularity Hub 

When you modify gravity, you’re trying to go back to the roots of what space-time is — the left-hand side — and seeing if there’s a modification that makes sense.

From Quanta Magazine

A Republican candidate hoping to win red state support could find a worse team to root for than one from Dallas.

From The Daily Beast

Last summer, I spoke with first black supermodel Beverly Johnson about this for The Root.

From The Daily Beast

It has grown from a rotten root—striving to replace human judgment with detailed dictates.

From The Daily Beast

The root of the word irony is in the Greek eironeia, “liar.”

From The Daily Beast

Speak to the friends and people you need to root out in life and let that conversation flow.

From The Daily Beast

He is what the bill wishes to make for us, a regular root doctor, and will suit the place exactly.

From Project Gutenberg

But at the root of the unnatural miracles is the natural miracle—the heart of man.

From Project Gutenberg

You see, I stuck to him like a log to a root, but for the first week or so 'twant no use—not a bit.

From Project Gutenberg

The same two impulses are said to lie at the root of the elaborate art of personal adornment developed by savages.

From Project Gutenberg

This book occasioned some prelates to say that they must root out printing or printing would root out them.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• essence
• foundation
• heart
• origin
• seed
• soul
• source
• stem
• stuff