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root

[ root, root ]

/ rut, rʊt /

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noun

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 di·rec·to·ry . 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.

Australian Informal. 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 remove completely; extirpate; exterminate (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).

OTHER WORDS FOR root

6 base, foundation, basic part, basic element.

7 beginning, rise, fount, fountainhead, spring, wellspring; derivation, originator.

8 parent, progenitor; ancestor(s), forebear(s), forefather.

21 eradicate, eliminate, wipe out, obliterate.

See synonyms for root on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about 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

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

OTHER WORDS FROM root

root·like, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH root

root , rout, route

Words nearby root

Roosevelt, Theodore, roost, rooster, roosterfish, rooster tail, root, rootage, root-and-branch, rootball, root beer, root canal

Other definitions for root (2 of 4)

root²

[ root, root ]

/ rut, rʊt /

verb (used without object)

to turn up the soil with the snout, as swine.

to poke, pry, or search, as if to find something: to root around in a drawer for loose coins.

verb (used with object)

to turn over with the snout (often followed by up).

to unearth; bring to light (often followed by up).

Origin of root

First recorded in 1530–40; variant of obsolete wroot (Middle English wroten, Old English wrōtan, akin to wrōt “a snout”)

Other definitions for root (3 of 4)

root³

[ root or, sometimes, root ]

/ rut or, sometimes, rʊt /

verb (used without object)

to encourage a team or contestant by cheering or applauding enthusiastically.

to lend moral support: The whole group will be rooting for him.

OTHER WORDS FOR root

1 cheer, cheer on, shout for, applaud, clap; boost, support.

2 back, second; champion, advocate, favor, espouse.

See synonyms for root on Thesaurus.com

Origin of root

An Americanism first recorded in 1885–90; perhaps variant of rout⁴

Other definitions for root (4 of 4)

Root

[ root ]

/ rut /

noun

El·i·hu

[el-uh-hyoo], /ˈɛl əˌhyu/, 1845–1937, U.S. lawyer and statesman: Nobel Peace Prize 1912.

John Well·born

[wel-bern], /ˈwɛl bərn/, 1851–91, U.S. architect.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use root in a sentence

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
Last summer, I spoke with first black supermodel Beverly Johnson about this for The Root.
One Vogue Cover Doesn’t Solve Fashion’s Big Race Problem|Danielle Belton|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It has grown from a rotten root—striving to replace human judgment with detailed dictates.
Red Tape Is Strangling Good Samaritans|Philip K. Howard|December 27, 2014|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
He is what the bill wishes to make for us, a regular root doctor, and will suit the place exactly.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
But at the root of the unnatural miracles is the natural miracle—the heart of man.
Solomon and Solomonic Literature|Moncure Daniel Conway
You see, I stuck to him like a log to a root, but for the first week or so 'twant no use—not a bit.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
The same two impulses are said to lie at the root of the elaborate art of personal adornment developed by savages.
Children's Ways|James Sully
This book occasioned some prelates to say that they must root out printing or printing would root out them.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell

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

anatomy the 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

Bible a 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)

maths a 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: solution maths a 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 NZ slang sexual 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 NZ slang to have sexual intercourse (with)

Derived forms of root

rooter, nounrootlike, adjectiverooty, adjectiverootiness, noun

Word Origin for root

Old English rōt, from Old Norse; related to Old English wyrt wort

British Dictionary definitions for root (2 of 3)

root²

/ (ruːt) /

verb (intr)

(of a pig) to burrow in or dig up the earth in search of food, using the snout

(foll by about, around, in etc) informal to search vigorously but unsystematically

Derived forms of root

rooter, noun

Word Origin for root

C16: changed (through influence of root 1) from earlier wroot, from Old English wrōtan; related to Old English wrōt snout, Middle Dutch wrōte mole

British Dictionary definitions for root (3 of 3)

root³

verb

(intr usually foll by for) informal to give support to (a contestant, team, etc), as by cheering

Derived forms of root

rooter, noun

Word Origin for root

C19: perhaps a variant of Scottish rout to make a loud noise, from Old Norse rauta to roar

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for root

root

[ rōōt, rut ]

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 root taproot.

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.

Cultural definitions for root (1 of 2)

root

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.

Other Idioms and Phrases with root

root

In addition to the idioms beginning with root

root and branch
rooted to the spot
root for
root of the matter
root out

also see:

put down roots
take root

root

OTHER WORDS FOR root

Idioms about root

Origin of root

OTHER WORDS FROM root

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH root

Words nearby root

Other definitions for root (2 of 4)

Origin of root

Other definitions for root (3 of 4)

OTHER WORDS FOR root

Origin of root

Other definitions for root (4 of 4)

Words related to root

How to use root in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for root (1 of 3)

Derived forms of root

Word Origin for root

British Dictionary definitions for root (2 of 3)

Derived forms of root

Word Origin for root

British Dictionary definitions for root (3 of 3)

Derived forms of root

Word Origin for root

Scientific definitions for root

Cultural definitions for root (1 of 2)

Cultural definitions for root (2 of 2)

Other Idioms and Phrases with root