First Known Use: 12th century
Dictionary
1root
noun, often attributive \ˈrüt, ˈru̇t\
: the part of a plant that grows underground, gets water from the ground, and holds the plant in place
: the part of a tooth, hair, fingernail, etc., that is attached to the body
: the cause or source of something
Full Definition of ROOT
1
a : the usually underground part of a seed plant body that originates usually from the hypocotyl, functions as an organ of absorption, aeration, and food storage or as a means of anchorage and support, and differs from a stem especially in lacking nodes, buds, and leaves b : any subterranean plant part (as a true root or a bulb, tuber, rootstock, or other modified stem) especially when fleshy and edible
2
a : the part of a tooth within the socket; also : any of the processes into which this part is often divided — see tooth illustration b : the enlarged basal part of a hair within the skin c : the proximal end of a nerve d : the part of an organ or physical structure by which it is attached to the body <the root of the tongue>
3
a : something that is an origin or source (as of a condition or quality) <the love of money is the root of all evil — 1 Timothy 6:10(Authorized Version)> b : one or more progenitors of a group of descendants —usually used in plural c : an underlying support : basis d : the essential core : heart —often used in the phrase at root e : close relationship with an environment : tie —usually used in plural <they put down roots in a farming community>
4
a : a quantity taken an indicated number of times as an equal factor <2 is a fourth root of 16> b : a number that reduces an equation to an identity when it is substituted for one variable
5
a : the lower part : base b : the part by which an object is attached to something else
6
: the simple element inferred as the basis from which a word is derived by phonetic change or by extension (as composition or the addition of an affix or inflectional ending)
7
: the lowest tone of a chord (as C in a C minor chord) when the tones are arranged in ascending thirds
— root·ed \ˈrü-təd, ˈru̇-\ adjective
— root·ed·ness noun
— root·less \ˈrüt-ləs, ˈru̇t-\ adjective
— root·less·ness noun
— root·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective
See root defined for English-language learners
See root defined for kids
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Origin of ROOT
Middle English, from Old English rōt, from Old Norse; akin to Old English wyrt root, Latin radix, Greek rhiza
Related to ROOT
- Synonyms
- cradle, font, fountain, fountainhead, origin, source, seedbed, spring, well, wellspring
Synonym Discussion of ROOT
origin, source, inception, root mean the point at which something begins its course or existence. origin applies to the things or persons from which something is ultimately derived and often to the causes operating before the thing itself comes into being <an investigation into the origin of baseball>. source applies more often to the point where something springs into being <the source of the Nile> <the source of recurrent trouble>. inception stresses the beginning of something without implying causes <the business has been a success since its inception>. root suggests a first, ultimate, or fundamental source often not easily discerned <the real root of the violence>.
2root
verb
Definition of ROOT
transitive verb
1
a : to furnish with or enable to develop roots b : to fix or implant by or as if by roots
2
: to remove altogether by or as if by pulling out by the roots —usually used with out <root out dissenters>
intransitive verb
1
: to grow roots or take root
2
: to have an origin or base
First Known Use of ROOT
14th century
3root
verb
Definition of ROOT
intransitive verb
1
: to turn up or dig in the earth with the snout : grub
2
: to poke or dig about
transitive verb
: to turn over, dig up, or discover and bring to light —usually used with out <root out the cause of the problem>
Origin of ROOT
alteration of wroot, from Middle English wroten, from Old English wrōtan; akin to Old High German ruozzan to root
First Known Use: 1532
4root
verb \ˈrüt also ˈru̇t\
Definition of ROOT
intransitive verb
1
: to noisily applaud or encourage a contestant or team : cheer
2
: to wish the success of or lend support to someone or something
— root·er noun
Origin of ROOT
perhaps alteration of 2rout
First Known Use: 1889
Root
biographical name \ˈrüt, ˈru̇t\
ROOTS Defined for Kids
1root
noun \ˈrüt, ˈru̇t\
Definition of ROOT for Kids
1
: the leafless underground part of a plant that absorbs water and minerals, stores food, and holds the plant in place
2
: the part of something by which it is attached <The tooth's root is anchored in bone.>
3
: source 1 <Money is the root of all evil.>
4
: the ancestors of a person or group of people
5
: a special relationship <They have roots in the community.>
6
: 1core 3 <We finally got to the root of the problem.>
7
: a word or part of a word from which other words are obtained by adding a prefix or suffix <The word “hold” is the root of “holder.”>
— root·ed \ˈrü-təd, ˈru̇-\ adjective
2root
verb
root·edroot·ing
Definition of ROOT for Kids
1
: to form or cause to form roots <The seedlings rooted quickly.>
2
: to attach by or as if by roots <He was rooted to his chair.>
— root out
: to remove by or as if by pulling out the roots <The mayor promised to root out crime.>
3root
verb
rootedrooting
Definition of ROOT for Kids
: to turn up or dig with or as if with the snout <She rooted in her desk for a pen.>
4root
verb \ˈrüt\
rootedrooting
Definition of ROOT for Kids
: to wish for the success of <We're rooting for the underdog.>
— root·er noun
Medical Dictionary
root
noun \ˈrüt, ˈru̇t\
Medical Definition of ROOT
1
a : the usually underground part of a seed plant body that functions as an organ of absorption, aeration, and food storage or as a means of anchorage and support and that differs from a stem especially in lacking nodes, buds, and leaves b : any subterranean plant part (as a true root or a bulb, tuber, rootstock, or other modified stem) especially when fleshy and edible
2
a (1) : the part of a tooth within the socket (2) : any of the processes into which the root of a tooth is often divided b : the enlarged basal part of a hair within the skin—called also hair root c : the proximal end of a nerve; especially : one or more bundles of nerve fibers joining the cranial and spinal nerves with their respective nuclei and columns of gray matter—see dorsal root, ventral root d : the part of an organ or physical structure by which it is attached to the body <the root of the tongue>
—root·less \-ləs\ adjective
Illustration of ROOT
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