root
noun OPAL W
/ruːt/
/ruːt/
Idioms 
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enlarge image[countable] the part of a plant that grows under the ground and takes in water and minerals that it sends to the rest of the plant- deep spreading roots
- Tree roots can cause damage to buildings.
- by the roots I pulled the plant up by the roots (= including the roots).
- root vegetables/crops (= plants whose roots you can eat, such as carrots)
- Good soil promotes strong root growth.
- Root tips die quickly when exposed to light and air.
Collocations The living worldThe living worldAnimalssee also grassroots, taprootTopics Plants and treesb2, Foodb2- animals mate/breed/reproduce/feed (on something)
- fish/amphibians swim/spawn (= lay eggs)
- birds fly/migrate/nest/sing
- insects crawl/fly/bite/sting
- insects/bees/locusts swarm
- bees collect/gather nectar/pollen
- spiders spin/weave a web
- snakes/lizards shed their skins
- bears/hedgehogs/frogs hibernate
- insect larvae grow/develop/pupate
- an egg/a chick/a larva hatches
- attract/find/choose a mate
- produce/release eggs/sperm
- lay/fertilize/incubate/hatch eggs
- inhabit a forest/a reef/the coast
- mark/enter/defend (a) territory
- stalk/hunt/capture/catch/kill prey
- trees/plants grow/bloom/blossom/flower
- a seed germinates/sprouts
- leaves/buds/roots/shoots appear/develop/form
- flower buds swell/open
- a fungus grows/spreads/colonizes something
- pollinate/fertilize a flower/plant
- produce/release/spread/disperse pollen/seeds/spores
- produce/bear fruit
- develop/grow/form roots/shoots/leaves
- provide/supply/absorb/extract/release nutrients
- perform/increase/reduce photosynthesis
- bacteria/microbes/viruses grow/spread/multiply
- bacteria/microbes live/thrive in/on something
- bacteria/microbes/viruses evolve/colonize something/cause disease
- bacteria break something down/convert something (into something)
- a virus enters/invades something/the body
- a virus mutates/evolves/replicates (itself)
- be infected with/contaminated with/exposed to a new strain of a virus/drug-resistant bacteria
- contain/carry/harbour bacteria/a virus
- kill/destroy/eliminate harmful/deadly bacteria
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- deep
- shallow
- gnarled
- …
- develop
- grow
- put down
- …
- grow
- system
- ball
- crops
- …
- by its/the roots
- [countable] the part of a hair, tooth, nail or tongue that attaches it to the rest of the body
- hair that is blonde at the ends and dark at the roots
- [countable, usually singular] the main cause of something, such as a problem or difficult situation
- root of something Money, or love of money, is said to be the root of all evil.
- We have to get to the root of the problem.
- at the root of something What lies at the root of his troubles is a sense of insecurity.
- What would you say was the root cause of the problem?
Extra ExamplesTopics Change, cause and effectb2- His fears of loneliness lay at the very root of his inability to leave.
- I expect money is at the root of the matter.
- I've spent months trying to get to the root of the problem.
- They consider globalization to be the root of all evil.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- deep
- strong
- very
- …
- have
- explore
- find
- …
- be planted in something
- go back
- cause
- at (the root of)
- root in
- the root of all evil
- the root of the matter
- the root of the problem
- …
- [countable, usually plural] the origin or basis of something
- Flamenco may have its roots in Arabic music.
- The festival has ancient and deep roots in English culture.
- Her last three albums have seen her return to her bluegrass roots
- We wanted to remain true to our creative roots.
Extra Examples- The two languages share a common root.
- Jazz's roots are firmly planted in African tradition.
- The custom has its roots in Wales.
- This shameful treatment struck at the very roots of their human dignity.
- The unrest has roots in religious differences.
- They can trace their roots back to the 16th century.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- deep
- strong
- very
- …
- have
- explore
- find
- …
- be planted in something
- go back
- cause
- at (the root of)
- root in
- the root of all evil
- the root of the matter
- the root of the problem
- …
- roots[plural] the feelings or connections that you have with a place because you have lived there or your family came from there
- I'm proud of my Italian roots.
- After 20 years in America, I still feel my roots are in England.
- We have made lifelong friendships and put down roots.
Extra Examples- My husband wants to go back to his Irish roots.
- severed from our cultural roots by industrialization
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- humble
- strong
- cultural
- …
- get back to
- go back to
- return to
- …
- [countable] (linguistics) the part of a word that has the main meaning and that its other forms are based on; a word that other words are formed from
- ‘Comfort’ is the root of ‘comfortable’, ‘comfortably’, ‘discomfort’ and ‘uncomfortable’.
- [countable] a quantity which, when multiplied by itself a particular number of times, produces another quantity see also cube root, square rootTopics Maths and measurementc2
of plant
of hair/tooth/nail
main cause of problem
origin
connection with place
of word
mathematics
Word Originnoun late Old English rōt, from Old Norse rót; related to Latin radix.
Idioms
put down roots
- (of a plant) to develop roots
- to settle and live in one place
- After ten years travelling the world, she felt it was time to put down roots somewhere.
- We haven't been here long enough to put down roots.
root and branch
- completely and in a way that affects every part of something
- The government set out to destroy the organization root and branch.
- root-and-branch reforms
take root
- (of a plant) to develop roots
- I hope those cuttings will take root.
- (of an idea) to become accepted widely
- Fortunately, militarism failed to take root in Europe as a whole.