noun
rhizome
RY-zohm
Rhizome (noun) means a plant stem that grows sideways underground and puts out roots and new shoots along its length. Example: “Ginger is grown from a knobbly rhizome.”
noun
1
A plant stem that grows sideways underground and puts out roots and new shoots along its length.
"Ginger is grown from a knobbly rhizome."
"The gardener divided the iris rhizome to make new plants."
"Bamboo spreads quickly through its underground rhizomes."
2
philosophy In philosophy, a way of picturing thought as a network of connections with no single starting point or hierarchy.
"The theorists used the rhizome as a model for non-linear thinking."
"Their essay treats the internet itself as a kind of rhizome."
"She compared the rhizome to a tree, arguing that ideas branch outward without a fixed root."
How to use rhizome
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn underground stem that spreads and sprouts new growth.
When to use it
The botanical sense is everyday gardening vocabulary, while the philosophical sense is academic.
Memory tip
Picture ginger root in the supermarket: that knobbly stem is a textbook rhizome.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
underground rhizome
ginger rhizome
rhizomatic thinking
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Ginger is grown from a knobbly _____.
Etymology
The word was borrowed from Ancient Greek rhízōma. In twentieth-century philosophy, Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari took up the term as a metaphor for non-hierarchical thought.
Synonyms
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rootstalk
rootstock
Rhymes for rhizome
See all rhymes for rhizome →Frequently asked questions
What is a rhizome in plants?
It is an underground stem that grows horizontally and sends out roots and shoots from points along its length, letting the plant spread.
Is ginger a rhizome?
Yes, the part of the ginger plant that is eaten is its rhizome.
What does rhizome mean in philosophy?
It describes a model of thought as an interconnected network without a single root or centre, an idea associated with Deleuze and Guattari.
What is the meaning of rhizome?
"rhizome" (noun) means a plant stem that grows sideways underground and puts out roots and new shoots along its length.
