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.
a similar organ developed from some other part of a plant, as one of those by which ivy clings to its support.
any underground part of a plant, as a rhizome.
something resembling or suggesting the root of a plant in position or function: roots of wires and cables.
the embedded or basal portion of a hair, tooth, nail, nerve, etc.
the fundamental or essential part: the root of a matter.
the source or origin of a thing: The love of money is the root of all evil.
a person or family as the source of offspring or descendants.
an offshoot or scion.
Mathematics.
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.
a value of the argument of a function for which the function takes the value zero.
Computers.
Also called root directory .the topmost directory of a hierarchical file system.
the UNIX account, having the username “root,” that allows administrator privileges.
Grammar.
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.”
such a form reconstructed for a parent language, as *sed-, the hypothetical Proto-Indo-European root meaning “sit.”
roots,
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.
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.
personal identification with a culture, religion, etc., seen as promoting the development of the character or the stability of society as a whole.
Music.
the fundamental tone of a compound tone or of a series of harmonies.
the lowest tone of a chord when arranged as a series of thirds; the fundamental.
Machinery.
(in a screw or other threaded object) the narrow inner surface between threads.Compare crest (def. 18), flank (def. 7).
(in a gear) the narrow inner surface between teeth.
AustralianInformal. an act of sexual intercourse.
Shipbuilding. the inner angle of an angle iron.
verb (used with object)
to fix by or as if by roots: We were rooted to the spot by surprise.
to implant or establish deeply: Good manners were rooted in him like a second nature.
to pull, tear, or dig up by the roots (often followed by up or out).
to extirpate; exterminate; remove completely (often followed by up or out): to root out crime.
Digital Technology.
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).
to install a rootkit on (a computer, electronic device, etc.).
verb (used without object)
to become fixed or established.
Digital Technology. to manipulate the operating system of a smartphone, tablet, etc.Compare jailbreak (def. 4).
Idioms for root
root and branch, utterly; entirely: to destroy something root and branch.
take root,
to send out roots; begin to grow.
to become fixed or established: The prejudices of parents usually take root in their children.
Origin of root
1
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; see origin at radix,rhizome,wort2
The Public Advocate Office argued that might allow for grasses and non-native species, which are much more fire-prone, to take root.
Morning Report: Power Company Challenged on Fire Prevention Plans|Voice of San Diego|August 25, 2020|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 THE VAULTS: Best Actress edition|Brian T. Carney|August 20, 2020|Washington Blade
Their sense of powerlessness, whether real or imagined, is at the root of their despair.
Generation Z is ‘traumatized’ by climate change—and they’re the key to fighting it|matthewheimer|August 19, 2020|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.
A Norwegian Startup Is Turning Dry Deserts Into Fertile Cropland|Vanessa Bates Ramirez|August 19, 2020|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.
The Physicist Who Slayed Gravity’s Ghosts|Thomas Lewton|August 18, 2020|Quanta Magazine
A Republican candidate hoping to win red state support could find a worse team to root for than one from Dallas.
Will Chris Christie Regret His Cowboy Hug?|Matt Lewis|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The root of the word irony is in the Greek eironeia, “liar.”
Up to a Point: They Made Me Write About Lena Dunham|P. J. O’Rourke|December 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Speak to the friends and people you need to root out in life and let that conversation flow.
The Unbearable Whiteness of Protesting|Rawiya Kameir, Judnick Mayard|December 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down.
Keep Christmas Commercialized!|P. J. O’Rourke|December 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Notice he said that complementarity is “a root” of family, not “the root.”
Is Pope Francis Backpedaling on Gays?|Jay Michaelson|November 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In their season they are better than a host of happy ones, and there is joy at the root of all.
Thomas Wingfold, Curate|George MacDonald
A yellow pigment was extracted from the root of the Morinda citrifolia.
Captain Cook|W.H.G. Kingston
Here there are five summits springing from one root, and all more than four thousand feet above the level of the sea.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 62, No. 382, October 1847|Various
The name Barhai is said to be from the Sanskrit Vardhika and the root vardh, to cut.
The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India|R. V. Russell
But the estates refused to yield the root of the whole matter.
The History of England|T.F. Tout
British Dictionary definitions for root (1 of 3)
root1
/ (ruːt) /
noun
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
(loosely) any of the branches of such an organ
any plant part, such as a rhizome or tuber, that is similar to a root in structure, function, or appearance
the essential, fundamental, or primary part or nature of somethingyour analysis strikes at the root of the problem
(as modifier)the root cause of the problem
anatomythe embedded portion of a tooth, nail, hair, etc
origin or derivation, esp as a source of growth, vitality, or existence
(plural)a person's sense of belonging in a community, place, etc, esp the one in which he was born or brought up
an ancestor or antecedent
Biblea descendant
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 meaningCompare stem 1 (def. 9)
mathsa number or quantity that when multiplied by itself a certain number of times equals a given number or quantity3 is a cube root of 27
Also called: solutionmathsa number that when substituted for the variable satisfies a given equation2 is a root of x³ – 2x – 4 = 0
music(in harmony) the note forming the foundation of a chord
Australian and NZslangsexual intercourse
root and branch
(adverb)entirely; completely; utterly
(adjective)thorough; radical; complete
Related adjective: radical
verb
Also: take root(intr)to put forth or establish a root and begin to grow
Also: take root(intr)to become established, embedded, or effective
(tr)to fix or embed with or as if with a root or roots
Australian and NZslangto have sexual intercourse (with)
Why Is The Word “Root” In “Root Beer”?Is root beer the world's most oddly named carbonated beverage ... we don't know, that award might go to 7-up, but we're going to explore the naming of this soft drink regardless. What, after all, is the root in root beer?
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.
Cultural definitions for root (2 of 2)
root
The part of a tooth below the gum. The root anchors the tooth to the jawbone.
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. See also fibrous roottaproot.
Any of various other plant parts that grow underground, especially an underground stem such as a corm, rhizome, or tuber.
The part of a tooth that is embedded in the jaw and not covered by enamel.
Mathematics
A number that, when multiplied by itself a given number of times, produces a specified number. For example, since 2 X 2 X 2 X 2 = 16, 2 is a fourth root of 16.
A solution to an equation. For example, a root of the equation x2 - 4 = 0 is 2, since 22 - 4 = 0.