ROOT

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does root mean? 

• ROOT (noun)
  The noun ROOT has 8 senses:

1. (botany) the usually underground organ that lacks buds or leaves or nodes; absorbs water and mineral salts; usually it anchors the plant to the ground

2. the place where something begins, where it springs into being

3. (linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed

4. a number that, when multiplied by itself some number of times, equals a given number

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

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

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

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

  Familiarity information: ROOT used as a noun is common.

• ROOT (verb)
  The verb ROOT has 7 senses:

1. take root and begin to grow

2. come into existence, originate

3. cheer for

4. plant by the roots

5. dig with the snout

6. become settled or established and stable in one's residence or life style

7. cause to take roots

  Familiarity information: ROOT used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ROOT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

(botany) the usually underground organ that lacks buds or leaves or nodes; absorbs water and mineral salts; usually it anchors the plant to the ground

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Hypernyms ("root" is a kind of...):

plant organ (a functional and structural unit of a plant or fungus)

Meronyms (parts of "root"):

bark (tough protective covering of the woody stems and roots of trees and other woody plants)

root hair (thin hairlike outgrowth of an epidermal cell just behind the tip; absorbs nutrients from the soil)

root cap (thimble-shaped mass of cells covering and protecting the growing tip of a root)

Meronyms (substance of "root"):

parenchyma (the primary tissue of higher plants composed of thin-walled cells that remain capable of cell division even when mature; constitutes the greater part of leaves, roots, the pulp of fruits, and the pith of stems)

Domain category:

botany; phytology (the branch of biology that studies plants)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "root"):

radish (pungent edible root of any of various cultivated radish plants)

prop root (a root that grows from and supports the stem above the ground in plants such as mangroves)

rootlet (small root or division of a root)

adventitious root (root growing in an unusual location e.g. from a stem)

taproot ((botany) main root of a plant growing straight downward from the stem)

pneumatophore (an air-filled root (submerged or exposed) that can function as a respiratory organ of a marsh or swamp plant)

parsnip (the whitish root of cultivated parsnip)

carrot (deep orange edible root of the cultivated carrot plant)

cassava; manioc (cassava root eaten as a staple food after drying and leaching; source of tapioca)

mandrake; mandrake root (the root of the mandrake plant; used medicinally or as a narcotic)

senega (dried root of two plants of the genus Polygala containing an irritating saponin)

licorice root (root of licorice used in flavoring e.g. candy and liqueurs and medicines)

sarsaparilla root (dried root of any of various plants of the genus Smilax used as a flavoring agent)

orris; orrisroot (fragrant rootstock of various irises especially Florentine iris; used in perfumes and medicines)

briarroot (hard woody root of the briar Erica arborea)

Hottentot's bread; Hottentot bread (thick edible rootstock of elephant's-foot)

oyster plant; salsify (edible root of the salsify plant)

chicory; chicory root (the dried root of the chicory plant: used as a coffee substitute)

horseradish; horseradish root (the root of the horseradish plant; it is grated or ground and used for seasoning)

ginseng (aromatic root of ginseng plants)

cocoyam; dasheen; eddo; taro (edible starchy tuberous root of taro plants)

calamus (the aromatic root of the sweet flag used medicinally)

Holonyms ("root" is a part of...):

root system; rootage (a developed system of roots)

Derivation:

root (take root and begin to grow)

root (plant by the roots)

rootlet (small root or division of a root)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The place where something begins, where it springs into being

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Synonyms:

beginning; origin; root; rootage; source

Context example:

communism's Russian root

Hypernyms ("root" is a kind of...):

point (the precise location of something; a spatially limited location)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "root"):

derivation (the source or origin from which something derives (i.e. comes or issues))

spring (a point at which water issues forth)

fountainhead; head; headspring (the source of water from which a stream arises)

headwater (the source of a river)

wellhead; wellspring (the source of water for a well)

jumping-off place; point of departure (a place from which an enterprise or expedition is launched)

birthplace; cradle; place of origin; provenance; provenience (where something originated or was nurtured in its early existence)

home (place where something began and flourished)

point source (a concentrated source (especially of radiation or pollution) that is spatially constricted)

trail head; trailhead (the beginning of a trail)

Derivation:

root (come into existence, originate)

Sense 3

Meaning:

(linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

base; radical; root; root word; stem; theme

Context example:

thematic vowels are part of the stem

Hypernyms ("root" is a kind of...):

descriptor; form; signifier; word form (the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something)

Domain category:

linguistics (the scientific study of language)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A number that, when multiplied by itself some number of times, equals a given number

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Hypernyms ("root" is a kind of...):

number (a concept of quantity involving zero and units)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "root"):

square root (a number that when multiplied by itself equals a given number)

cube root (a number that when multiplied three times equals a given number)

Sense 5

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects

Synonyms:

root; solution

Hypernyms ("root" is a kind of...):

set ((mathematics) an abstract collection of numbers or symbols)

Sense 6

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

ancestor; antecedent; ascendant; ascendent; root

Hypernyms ("root" is a kind of...):

relation; relative (a person related by blood or marriage)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "root"):

forbear; forebear (a person from whom you are descended)

primogenitor; progenitor (an ancestor in the direct line)

foremother (a woman ancestor)

father; forefather; sire (the founder of a family)

ancestress (a woman ancestor)

Sense 7

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

etymon; root

Hypernyms ("root" is a kind of...):

descriptor; form; signifier; word form (the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something)

Sense 8

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Hypernyms ("root" is a kind of...):

anatomical structure; bodily structure; body structure; complex body part; structure (a particular complex anatomical part of a living thing and its construction and arrangement)

Meronyms (parts of "root"):

cement; cementum (a specialized bony substance covering the root of a tooth)

Holonyms ("root" is a part of...):

tooth (hard bonelike structures in the jaws of vertebrates; used for biting and chewing or for attack and defense)

nail (horny plate covering and protecting part of the dorsal surface of the digits)

hair (a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss)

• ROOT (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Take root and begin to grow

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

this plant roots quickly

Hypernyms (to "root" is one way to...):

grow (become larger, greater, or bigger; expand or gain)

Verb group:

root (cause to take roots)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP

Derivation:

root ((botany) the usually underground organ that lacks buds or leaves or nodes; absorbs water and mineral salts; usually it anchors the plant to the ground)

rooting (the process of putting forth roots and beginning to grow)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Come into existence, originate

Classified under:

Verbs of being, having, spatial relations

Context example:

The problem roots in her depression

Hypernyms (to "root" is one way to...):

become (come into existence)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s

Derivation:

root; rootage (the place where something begins, where it springs into being)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Cheer for

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Context example:

She roots for the Broncos

Hypernyms (to "root" is one way to...):

back up; support (give moral or psychological support, aid, or courage to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s PP

Sense 4

Meaning:

Plant by the roots

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "root" is one way to...):

plant; set (put or set (seeds, seedlings, or plants) into the ground)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

root ((botany) the usually underground organ that lacks buds or leaves or nodes; absorbs water and mineral salts; usually it anchors the plant to the ground)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Dig with the snout

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

root; rootle; rout

Context example:

the pig was rooting for truffles

Hypernyms (to "root" is one way to...):

cut into; delve; dig; turn over (turn up, loosen, or remove earth)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Sense 6

Meaning:

Become settled or established and stable in one's residence or life style

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

root; settle; settle down; steady down; take root

Context example:

He finally settled down

Hypernyms (to "root" is one way to...):

stabilise; stabilize (become stable or more stable)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "root"):

roost (settle down or stay, as if on a roost)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

Sense 7

Meaning:

Cause to take roots

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "root" is one way to...):

grow (cause to grow or develop)

Verb group:

root (take root and begin to grow)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

rooting (the process of putting forth roots and beginning to grow)

 Context examples 

These guidelines are rooted in the well established relationship between sodium intake and blood pressure.

(Study Shows Average Consumption of Salt Good for Heart Health, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

They found that fewer young spruce trees had taken root during periods when snowshoe hares were abundant.

(Race across the tundra: White spruce vs. snowshoe hare, National Science Foundation)

The colony took root, and by the mid-12th century there were two major settlements with a population of thousands.

(Lost Norse of Greenland fuelled the medieval ivory trade, ancient walrus DNA suggests, University of Cambridge)

Earth also has vegetation cover on land that binds the soil with its roots and helps block the wind and rain that wash the particles out of the atmosphere.

(Martian Dust Storm Grows Global: Curiosity Captures Photos of Thickening Haze, NASA)

The root of any of a group of herbs called Angelica.

(Angelica root, NCI Dictionary)

The shoot can bend towards where light is unobstructed and the roots can grow towards water or more nutrient-rich soil.

(Plants can tell time even without a brain, University of Cambridge)

There stands an old tree, cut it down, and you will find something at the roots.

(Fairy Tales, by The Brothers Grimm)

And when the sun was up I was scorched, and because I had no root I withered away.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

He felt his way through the wet snow to the watery muskeg berries, and went by feel as he pulled up the rush-grass by the roots.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

“I fear, sir,” said Holmes, “that, interesting and indeed essential as these details are, my inquiries must go more to the root of things. What was the letter?”

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)