root
rwt
Root (noun) means the underground part of a plant that anchors it and draws in water and nutrients. Example: “The tree's roots had cracked the pavement over the years.”
noun
1
The underground part of a plant that anchors it and draws in water and nutrients.
"The tree's roots had cracked the pavement over the years."
"Water the plant at the roots, not the leaves."
"Carrots and parsnips are vegetables whose edible part is the root."
2
The origin, source, or underlying cause of something.
"Poor communication was the root of the whole misunderstanding."
"Investigators tried to find the root of the problem before it spread further."
"Jealousy is often at the root of arguments between close friends."
3
In mathematics, a value which, raised to a given power, produces a specified number (most commonly the square root).
"The square root of 81 is 9."
"She solved for the roots of the quadratic equation."
"The teacher asked us to find the cube root of twenty-seven."
verb
1
To become firmly fixed or established.
"Fear of failure had rooted in her mind since she was a child."
"The habit had rooted itself deeply before anyone noticed."
"Cuttings need a few weeks in water before they root."
2
To cheer for or support someone, hoping for their success. (usually "root for")
"The whole office was rooting for her to get the promotion."
"We'll be rooting for the home team on Saturday."
"I always root for the underdog when I watch a match on television."
How to use root
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe base or source of something — literally a plant's underground anchor, or figuratively the true cause behind a problem.
Common mistake
"Root for" (to support) is often confused with "route for," which is unrelated and refers to a path or course.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
take root
root cause
root for a team
put down roots
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Word forms
- Plural
- roots
- Third person singular
- roots
- Past tense
- rooted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The tree's _____ had cracked the pavement over the years.
Etymology
From Old Norse rót, going back to a Proto-Germanic word for "root" that is also the ancestor of "wort" and a distant relative of Latin radix (source of "radish" and "radical").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for root
See all rhymes for root →Frequently asked questions
What does “root” mean?
The word “root” means the underground part of a plant that anchors it and draws in water and nutrients. In plain terms, the base or source of something — literally a plant's underground anchor, or figuratively the true cause behind a problem.
How do you pronounce “root”?
“Root” is pronounced rwt (/ɹuːt/ in IPA).
How do you use “root” in a sentence?
Here is “root” used in a sentence: “The tree's roots had cracked the pavement over the years.”
What part of speech is “root”?
Depending on how it is used, “root” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “root” come from?
The word “root” comes from Latin. From Old Norse rót, going back to a Proto-Germanic word for "root" that is also the ancestor of "wort" and a distant relative of Latin radix (source of "radish" and "radical").
Is “root” a common word?
“Root” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “root” have?
“Root” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the underground part of a plant that anchors it and draws in water and nutrients.
What is the difference between root and route?
These sound-alike words have unrelated meanings. A root is the underground part of a plant, or figuratively the origin of something, as in the root of a problem. A route is a way or path from one place to another. If you mean directions or a journey, use route; if you mean a plant part or a source, use root.
What are the meanings of root?
Root has several senses. Literally it is the underground part of a plant that anchors it and takes in water. Figuratively it means the origin or cause of something, as in the root of a dispute. It also names the part of a tooth or hair below the surface, and in maths, a value like a square root.
What is an example of a root?
The most familiar example is a plant root, such as a carrot or the spreading roots of a tree that hold it in the soil. Figuratively, people speak of the root of a problem, meaning its underlying cause, or of a person's roots, meaning their family origins and cultural background.
What does it mean to get to the root of something?
It means to find the true underlying cause of a problem rather than just its surface symptoms. Just as a plant's root lies hidden beneath the soil, the root of an issue is the deeper source that must be uncovered and addressed if the problem is to be solved properly and for good.
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