taproot

American  

[tap-root, -root] / ˈtæpˌrut, -ˌrʊt /

noun

Botany.

1. a main root descending downward from the radicle and giving off small lateral roots. root.

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taproot British  

/ ˈtæpˌruːt /

noun

1. the large single root of plants such as the dandelion, which grows vertically downwards and bears smaller lateral roots

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taproot Scientific  

/ tăp′ro̅o̅t′,-rt′ /

1. The main root in gymnosperms, eudicotyledons, and magnoliids, usually stouter than the lateral roots and growing straight downward from the stem. The taproot develops from the primary root. The taproot and its lateral roots penetrate deeper into the soil than the fibrous roots characteristic of monocotyledons.

2. Compare fibrous root

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taproot Cultural  

1. The single deep root of many deciduous trees that forms the basis for their root systems.

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Discover More

Figuratively, a “taproot” is the source of an idea or work: “His childhood in Wales is the taproot of his poetry.”

Other Word Forms

• taprooted adjective

Etymology

Origin of taproot

First recorded in 1595–1605; tap ² + root ¹

Compare meaning

How does taproot compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• taproot vs. fibrous root

Example Sentences

Unconsciousness is the taproot of these various kinds of enslavement we experience today.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 5, 2024

When we tackle issues at the taproot, we set ourselves up for a better future.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 20, 2023

Flowering causes the taproot, the edible root that we consume, to turn woody and inedible.

From Science Daily • Sep. 28, 2023

The draw: the promise of this perennial grain's 12-foot taproot to enhance carbon storage, water infiltration and soil organic matter.

From Salon • Sep. 21, 2023

I can feel the pulsing of its great taproot, the howling cello in its trunk.

From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García