rootstock

noun

root·​stock ˈrüt-ˌstäk How to pronounce rootstock (audio)
ˈru̇t-
1
: a rhizomatous underground part of a plant
2
: a stock for grafting consisting of a root or a piece of root
broadly : stock sense 7b

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web And last year, the European Union greenlighted a project with the commodities trader ECOM Agroindustrial to examine how to graft rootstock from TS5 and other hardy varieties onto weaker robusta plants and, potentially, onto other coffee species. Nhung Nguyen, Washington Post, 15 May 2023 And last year, the European Union greenlit a project with the commodities trader ECOM Agroindustrial to examine how to graft rootstock from TS5 and other hardy varieties onto weaker robusta plants and, potentially, onto other coffee species. Rebecca Tan, BostonGlobe.com, 15 May 2023 Every part of the tree below the graft union comes from the rootstock tree; the trunk, branches and fruit emerge from the scion cultivar. oregonlive, 14 Nov. 2021 To make his case, Beard adapted France’s cuisine bourgeoise for the American market, Anglicizing the names of certain dishes, turning down the volume on others considered too complicated or adventurous, and grafting American ingredients onto the rootstock of French recipes. Aaron Timms, The New Republic, 4 Dec. 2020 Is this coming from a rootstock that had thorns? Neil Sperry, San Antonio Express-News, 25 June 2021 The rootstock should match the drainage. Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2023 The rootstock came from Oregon. Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2022 But that didn’t happen until almost 70 years later, when, in 1990, Joseph’s son Louie and his grandsons Mark and Michael decided to plant vine rootstock. Matt Kettmann, SFChronicle.com, 4 Aug. 2020 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rootstock.' 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

1832, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rootstock was in 1832

Dictionary Entries Near rootstock

Cite this Entry

“Rootstock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rootstock. Accessed 4 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

rootstock

noun
root·​stock ˈrüt-ˌstäk How to pronounce rootstock (audio)
ˈru̇t-
1
2
: a root or part of a root to which an aboveground plant part is grafted

More from Merriam-Webster on rootstock

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!