I. ˈrüt, ˈru̇t noun
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English rōt, from Old Norse; akin to Old English wyrt root, Latin radix, Greek rhiza
Date: 12th century
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 (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
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 (Authorized Version)
b. : one or more progenitors of a group of descendants — usually used in plural
c. : an underlying support : basis
d. : the essential core : heart — often used in the phrase at root
e. : close relationship with an environment : tie — usually used in plural
they put down root s in a farming community
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 (as composition or the addition of an affix or inflectional ending)
7. : the lowest tone of a chord (as C in a C minor chord) when the tones are arranged in ascending thirds
Synonyms: see origin
• root·ed ˈrü-təd, ˈru̇- adjective
• root·ed·ness noun
• root·less ˈrüt-ləs, ˈru̇t- adjective
• root·less·ness noun
• root·like -ˌlīk adjective
II. verb
Date: 14th century
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
III. verb
Etymology: alteration of wroot, from Middle English wroten, from Old English wrōtan; akin to Old High German ruozzan to root
Date: 1532
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
IV. ˈrüt also ˈru̇t intransitive verb
Etymology: perhaps alteration of rout (II)
Date: 1889
1. : to noisily applaud or encourage a contestant or team : cheer
2. : to wish the success of or lend support to someone or something
• root·er noun