rootˈlessness noun

rootˈlet noun

rootˈlike adjective

roots adjective

1. Expressing or concerned with one's ethnic or cultural identity
2. Of or relating to roots music (see below)

rootˈsiness noun

rootˈsy adjective

(esp of music) reminiscent of or incorporating traditional or folk styles

rootˈy adjective (rootˈier; rootˈiest)

1. Abounding in, consisting of, or like roots
2. Rank

root-and-branchˈ adjective and adverb

1. Without leaving any part
2. Thorough(ly), complete(ly)

root ball noun

The spherical mass formed by the roots of a plant, with the surrounding soil

root beer noun

A drink made from roots of dandelion, sassafras, etc

rootˈbound adjective

1. Rooted to the ground (Milton)
2. Pot-bound

root canal noun

The narrow passage through which nerves and blood vessels enter the pulp cavity of a tooth

root cap noun

A sheath of cells at the tip of a root

root cause noun

Fundamental cause

root climber noun

A plant that climbs by means of roots, such as ivy

root crop noun

A crop of esculent roots

root directory noun (computing)

The highest level of directory in a directory structure

root eater noun

rootˈ-fallen adjective

Fallen, by roots giving way

rootˈ-fast adjective

Firmly rooted

root hair noun

A fine tubular outgrowth from a cell by which a young root absorbs water

rootˈhold noun

1. Maintenance of position by roots
2. A footing

root house noun

1. A summerhouse built of tree roots
2. A storehouse for potatoes, etc

rooting compound noun (botany)

A preparation, containing plant growth substances, in which a cutting is dipped to promote root growth

rootˈkit noun (computing)

Software embedded within an operating system that performs operations without informing the user

rootˈ-knot noun

An enlargement of a root caused by a nematode

root mean square noun

The square root of the sum of the squares of a set of quantities divided by the total number of quantities

root nodule noun (botany)

The swelling on the root of a leguminous plant containing nitrogen-fixing bacteria

root parasite noun

A plant parasitic on a root

root planing noun (dentistry)

A treatment for gum disease in which the parts of teeth below the gum are cleaned and smoothed

root pressure noun

An upward forcing of sap, shown by the bleeding of plants

rootˈ-prune transitive verb

To prune the roots of

rootˈ-pruning noun

root rubber noun

Rubber obtained from the roots of certain African apocynaceous plants

root sheath noun

The sheath of the root of an orchid, hair, feather, etc

roots music noun

Popular music based on traditional forms, often reflecting an ethnic identity

rootˈstock noun

1. A rhizome, esp if short, thick, and more or less erect (botany)
2. A source, ancestral form

root system noun

root tubercle noun

A root nodule

root vegetable noun

1. A vegetable which has an esculent root
2. The root itself

put down roots

To settle in a place

strike or take root

To root, to become established