primary root

noun

: the root of a plant that develops first and originates from the radicle see seedling illustration

Examples of primary root in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web For some time now, it’s been established that the primary root of SARS-CoV-2 transmission is airborne. William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 2 May 2022 The primary root cause of humanitarian migration from Central America is the U.S. government. Felipe De La Hoz, The New Republic, 1 Apr. 2021 Arabidopsis thaliana, a small flowering plant that is often used by biologists for plant research, is the star of this video by Daniel von Wangenheim, which shows a new root growing laterally off a primary root. Scientific American, 16 Mar. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'primary root.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of primary root was in 1877

Dictionary Entries Near primary root

Cite this Entry

“Primary root.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/primary%20root. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

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