Root
volume
British pronunciation/ɹˈuːt/
American pronunciation/ˈɹut/

Definition & Meaning of "root"

Root
01

the underground part of a plant that absorbs water and minerals, sending it to other parts

Wiki
root definition and meaning

What is a "root"?

A root is a fundamental part of a plant's structure that typically grows underground, anchoring the plant in the soil and absorbing water and nutrients from the surrounding environment. Roots come in various shapes and sizes, ranging from slender and fibrous to thick and tuberous, depending on the plant species and its habitat. They consist of several key parts, including the root cap, which protects the delicate growing tip, and the root hairs, which increase the surface area for nutrient absorption. Roots also store reserves of energy and nutrients for the plant to use during periods of growth or stress. In addition to anchoring the plant and absorbing water and nutrients, roots play a crucial role in stabilizing soil, preventing erosion, and interacting with soil microorganisms.

example
Example
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She carefully planted the new tree, ensuring that its roots were well spread out in the hole to encourage healthy growth.
The gardener dug up the old tree to remove its large, tangled roots that had spread throughout the garden.
The root of the vegetable was harvested, revealing a crisp and fresh produce ready for cooking.
02

the core lexical unit from which words are derived and carries the central meaning of a word

What is a "root"?

A root is the most basic part of a word that carries its primary meaning and cannot be broken down into smaller meaningful components. Roots serve as the foundation for word formation, and affixes, such as prefixes or suffixes, can be added to them to create new words or alter their meanings. For example, in the word "unhappiness", the root is "happy", which conveys the core meaning of the word. Roots are essential in linguistics because they help in understanding the meaning and relationships of related words within a language.

03

the set of values that give a true statement when substituted into an equation

04

a value that, when multiplied by itself a specified number of times, results in the given number

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Example
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The square root of 16 is 4.
Negative numbers can have imaginary roots, such as the square root of -1 being i.
Calculators can quickly find the roots of large numbers.
05

the primary cause of something

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Example
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Understanding the root of the problem is essential for finding an effective solution to the conflict.
The therapist helped her uncover the root of her anxiety, which was tied to past experiences.
Finding the root of the misunderstanding allowed them to resolve the issue and improve communication.
06

the embedded part of a bodily structure such as a tooth, nail, or hair

07

the place where something begins, where it springs into being

08

a simple form inferred as the common basis from which related words in several languages can be derived by linguistic processes

09

someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)

to root
01

to dig or search for something by using the snout, as done by certain animals like pigs

Intransitive
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Example
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The pig rooted around the forest floor for truffles.
The dog rooted in the dirt, looking for its buried bone.
The wild boar rooted through the underbrush in search of food.
02

to plant by burying the base of a plant in soil

Transitive: to root a plant
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Example
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She roots the cuttings in a potting mix to propagate new plants.
They root the saplings in the garden bed to establish them in the soil.
The farmer roots the young trees in the orchard to ensure proper growth.
03

(of a plant) to grow and develop roots

Intransitive
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Example
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The sapling rooted quickly in the rich soil of the garden.
After a week in water, the cutting finally rooted and was ready for planting.
The gardener ensured the plant rooted well before transferring it to a larger pot.
04

to have a starting point, origin, or foundation

Intransitive: to root in an origin
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Example
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The philosophy of the movement rooted in a desire for equality.
Her passion for art rooted in childhood experiences with her grandmother.
His love for music rooted in his family ’s rich musical history.
05

to help a plant or cutting grow roots

Transitive: to root a plant or cutting
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Example
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The gardener rooted the cutting in a jar of water before planting it.
He rooted the sapling by placing it in nutrient-rich soil.
She successfully rooted the rosemary cuttings on her kitchen windowsill.
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