1the part of a plant which attaches it to the ground or to a support, typically underground, conveying water and nourishment to the rest of the plant via numerous branches and fibres:cacti have deep and spreading rootsa tree root [as modifier]:root growth
the persistent underground part of a plant, especially when fleshy and enlarged and used as a vegetable, e.g. a turnip or carrot:you should never wash roots before storing
any plant grown for its root:roots like beet and carrot cannot be transplanted
the embedded part of a bodily organ or structure such as a hair, tooth, or nail:her hair was fairer at the roots
the part of a thing attaching it to a greater or more fundamental whole; the end or base:a little lever near the root of the barrelthey disappeared from sight behind the root of the crag
2the basic cause, source, or origin of something:money is the root of all eviljealousy was at the root of it [as modifier]:the root cause of the problem
(roots) family, ethnic, or cultural origins:it’s always nice to return to my roots
(as modifier roots) denoting or relating to something from a particular ethnic or cultural origin, especially a non-Western one:roots music
(in biblical use) a scion; a descendant:the root of David
Linguistics a morpheme, not necessarily surviving as a word in itself, from which words have been made by the addition of prefixes or suffixes or by other modification:many European words stem from this linguistic root [as modifier]:the root form of the word
(also root note) Music the fundamental note of a chord:in the sequence the roots of the chords drop by fifths
3 Mathematics a number or quantity that when multiplied by itself, typically a specified number of times, gives a specified number or quantity.
a value of an unknown quantity satisfying a given equation:the roots of the equation differ by an integer
4Australian/NZ & Irish vulgar slang an act of sexual intercourse.
[with adjective] a sexual partner of a specified ability.
ზმნა
Universal
1cause (a plant or cutting) to grow roots:root your own cuttings from stock plants
[no object] (of a plant or cutting) establish roots:large trees had rooted in the canal bank
2establish deeply and firmly:vegetarianism is rooted in Indian culture
(be rooted in) have as an origin or cause:the Latin verb is rooted in an Indo-European word
3 [with object and adverbial] (often as adjective rooted) cause (someone) to stand immobile through fear or amazement:she found herself rooted to the spot in disbelief
4 [with object]Australian/NZ & Irish vulgar slang have sexual intercourse with.
exhaust (someone) or frustrate their efforts: (as adjective rooted)grab a pew—you must be rooted
at root
basically; fundamentally:it is a moral question at root
put down roots
(of a plant) begin to draw nourishment from the soil through its roots.
(of a person) begin to have a settled life in a particular place:I think it’s time I put down some rootsthey have married, put down roots
root and branch
used to express the thorough or radical nature of a process or operation:root-and-branch reform of personal taxation
strike at the root (or roots) of
affect in a vital area with potentially destructive results:the proposals struck at the roots of community life
take root
(of a plant) begin to grow and draw nourishment from the soil through its roots.
become fixed or established:the idea had taken root in my mind
root something out
(also root something up) dig or pull up a plant by the roots:they are rooting up hawthorn bushesthey make a mess, root up plants and flowers
find and get rid of someone or something pernicious or dangerous:a campaign to root out corruption
