root

1 of 4

noun

ˈrüt  ˈru̇t 

plural roots

1

a

: the usually underground part of a seed plant body that originates usually from the hypocotyl, functions as an organ of absorption, aeration, and food storage or as a means of anchorage and support, and differs from a stem especially in lacking nodes, buds, and leaves

b

: any subterranean plant part (such as a true root or a bulb, tuber, rootstock, or other modified stem) especially when fleshy and edible

2

a

: the part of a tooth within the socket

also : any of the processes into which this part is often divided see tooth illustration

b

: the enlarged basal part of a hair within the skin

c

: the proximal end of a nerve

especially : the initial segment of a spinal nerve where it branches from the spinal cord : nerve root see also dorsal root, ventral root

d

: the part of an organ or physical structure by which it is attached to the body

the root of the tongue

3

a

: something that is an origin or source (as of a condition or quality)

… the love of money is the root of all evil …

—1 Timothy 6:10 (King James Version)

b roots plural

(1)

: one or more progenitors of a group of descendants

have traced their roots back several generations

(2)

: a special or close relationship with an environment

—used with in

has roots in the community

c

: an underlying support : basis

one of the roots of democracy

d

: the essential core : heart

the root of the matter

got to the root cause of the problem

—often used in the phrases at root or at the root of

The beliefs are the same at root.

Simple greed was at the root of the crime.

4

a

: a quantity taken an indicated number of times as an equal factor

2 is a fourth root of 16.

b

: a number that reduces an equation to an identity when it is substituted for one variable

5

a

: the lower part : base

b

: the part by which an object is attached to something else

6

: the simple element inferred as the basis from which a word is derived by phonetic change or by extension (such as composition or the addition of an affix or inflectional ending)

7

: the lowest tone of a chord (such as C in a C minor chord) when the tones are arranged in ascending thirds

8

computers : a level of access to a computer system that allows complete access to files on the system and complete control over the system's functions

—usually used before another noun

root user

root directory

rooted

ˈrü-təd 

ˈru̇-

adjective

rootedness noun

rootless

ˈrüt-ləs 

ˈru̇t-

adjective

rootlessness noun

rootlike

ˈrüt-ˌlīk 

ˈru̇t-

adjective

see also take root

root

2 of 4

verb (1)

rooted; rooting; roots

transitive verb

1

a

: to furnish with or enable to develop roots

b

: to fix or implant by or as if by roots

2

: to remove altogether by or as if by pulling out by the roots

—usually used with out

root out dissenters

intransitive verb

1

: to grow roots or take root

2

: to have an origin or base

root

3 of 4

verb (2)

rooted; rooting; roots

intransitive verb

1

: to turn up or dig in the earth with the snout : grub

2

: to poke or dig about

transitive verb

: to turn over, dig up, or discover and bring to light

—usually used with out

root out the cause of the problem

root

4 of 4

verb (3)

ˈrüt 

also

ˈru̇t 

rooted; rooting; roots

intransitive verb

1

: to noisily applaud or encourage a contestant or team : cheer

2

: to wish the success of or lend support to someone or something

rooter noun

Synonyms of root

Noun

• source
• origin
• cradle

Verb (1)

• embed
• lodge

Choose the Right Synonym for root

origin, source, inception, root mean the point at which something begins its course or existence.

origin applies to the things or persons from which something is ultimately derived and often to the causes operating before the thing itself comes into being.

an investigation into the origin of baseball

source applies more often to the point where something springs into being.

the source of the Nile

the source of recurrent trouble

inception stresses the beginning of something without implying causes.

the business has been a success since its inception

root suggests a first, ultimate, or fundamental source often not easily discerned.

the real root of the violence

Examples of root in a Sentence

Noun

Elm trees have shallow roots.

Pull weeds up by the roots so that they don't grow back.

You can tell that she dyes her hair blonde because her dark roots are showing.

Verb (1)

rooted the post securely in the dirt

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

White South Africans, whose roots can be traced to settlers arriving under Dutch and British colonial rule, dominated the country through a system of racial segregation known as apartheid from 1948 until its abolishment in the early 1990s. —Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025

For all their sophistication—transforming a poisonous root and its leaves into a whole range of delicacies is no mean feat—for years such dishes were seen by the city’s elite as the food of poverty. —Michael Snyder, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025

Verb

In many cases, athletes come to me looking for ways to stretch out their chronic tension without realizing that the issue is rooted somewhere else. —Dana Santas, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025

Remove all the leaves from the bottom third of the cutting and dip the cut end in rooting hormone powder. —Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English rōt, from Old Norse; akin to Old English wyrt root, Latin radix, Greek rhiza

Verb (2)

alteration of wroot, from Middle English wroten, from Old English wrōtan; akin to Old High German ruozzan to root

Verb (3)

perhaps alteration of rout entry 5

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Verb (2)

1516, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Verb (3)

1889, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing root

• at root
• black cohosh root
• brace root
• celery root
• characteristic root
• cube root
• dorsal root
• dorsal root ganglion
• fibrous root
• latent root
• nerve root
• orris root
• primary root
• prop root
• rattlesnake root
• root and branch
• root ball
• root beer
• root bound
• root canal
• root cap
• root cause
• root cellar
• root crop
• root for
• root hair
• root kit
• root knot
• root-knot nematode
• root-mean-square
• root out
• root pressure
• root rot
• root (someone or something) on
• root vegetable
• secondary root
• senega root
• square root
• take root
• tuberous root
• ventral root

Rhymes for root

• beaut
• boot
• bruit
• brut
• brute
• chute
• coot
• cute
• flute
• fruit
• hoot
• jute

Kids Definition

root

1 of 4 noun

ˈrüt  ˈru̇t 

1

a

: the leafless usually underground part of a plant that absorbs water and minerals, stores food, and holds the plant in place

b

: an underground plant part especially when fleshy and edible

2

a

: the part of a tooth within the socket

b

: the base or end of a bodily part (as a hair or a fingernail) or the part by which it is attached to the body

3

a

: an original cause : source

the roots of evil

b

: the ancestors of a person or a group of persons

people tracing their roots

c

: something that lies under and supports

the roots of a mountain chain

d

: core entry 1 sense 1, heart

the root of the problem

e

: a close relationship with a social environment

has roots in the South

4

a

: a number that when multiplied by itself a given number of times equals a specified number

2 is a 4th root of 16 because 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 16

b

: a solution of a polynomial equation with one unknown

(x + 1) (x - 1) = 0 has the roots x = -1 and x = 1

5

: a word or part of a word from which other words are formed

"butler" and "bottle" come from the same Latin root

rooted

-əd 

adjective

rootless

-ləs 

adjective

rootlike

-ˌlīk 

adjective

root

2 of 4 verb

1

a

: to form or enable to form roots

b

: to fix or become fixed by or as if by roots : take root

2

: to remove by or as if by pulling out the roots

root out spies

root

3 of 4 verb

: to turn up or dig in the soil with the snout

pigs rooting for fungi

root

4 of 4 verb

ˈrüt  ˈru̇t 

1

: cheer entry 2 sense 2

2

: to wish for the success of someone or something

rooting for the underdog

rooter noun

Etymology

Noun

Old English rōt "root of a plant"; of Norse origin

Verb

perhaps an altered form of rout, a rare word meaning "to low or bellow like cattle"

Medical Definition

root

noun

ˈrüt  ˈru̇t 

1

a

: the usually underground part of a seed plant body that functions as an organ of absorption, aeration, and food storage or as a means of anchorage and support and that differs from a stem especially in lacking nodes, buds, and leaves

b

: any subterranean plant part (as a true root or a bulb, tuber, rootstock, or other modified stem) especially when fleshy and edible

2

a(1)

: the part of a tooth within the socket

(2)

: any of the processes into which the root of a tooth is often divided

b

: the enlarged basal part of a hair within the skin

called also hair root

c

: the proximal end of a nerve

especially : the initial segment of a spinal nerve where it branches from the spinal cord : nerve root see also dorsal root, ventral root

d

: the part of an organ or physical structure by which it is attached to the body

the root of the tongue

rootless

-ləs 

adjective

Legal Definition

root

noun

ˈrüt, ˈru̇t 

in the civil law of Louisiana : descendant

Biographical Definition

Root

biographical name

ˈrüt  ˈru̇t 

Elihu 1845–1937 American lawyer and statesman