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root

1 of 4

noun

ˈrüt

ˈru̇t

plural roots

Synonyms ofroot next

: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

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

:the part of a tooth within the socket

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

:the enlarged basal part of a hair within the skin

:the proximal end of a nerve

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

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

theroot of the tongue

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

… the love of money is theroot of all evil …—

1 Timothy 6:10 (King James Version)

:one or more progenitors of a group of descendants

—usually used in plural

:an underlying support:basis

:the essential core:heart

—often used in the phraseat root

:close relationship with an environment:tie

—usually used in plural

They put downroots in a farming community.

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

2 is a fourthroot of 16.

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

:the lower part:base

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

: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)

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

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

rootednessnoun

rootless

ˈrüt-ləs

ˈru̇t-

adjective

rootlessnessnoun

rootlike

ˈrüt-ˌlīk

ˈru̇t-

adjective

verb (1)

rooted;rooting;roots

transitive verb

:to furnish with or enable to developroots

:to fix or implant by or as if by roots

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

—usually used without

root out dissenters

intransitive verb

:to grow roots or take root

:to have an origin or base

root

3 of 4

verb (2)

rooted;rooting;roots

intransitive verb

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

:to poke or dig about

transitive verb

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

—usually used without

root out the cause of the problem

root

4 of 4

verb (3)

ˈrüt

also

ˈru̇t

rooted;rooting;roots

intransitive verb

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

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

rooternoun

Synonyms

Noun

Verb (1)

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Choose the Right Synonym forroot

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 theorigin of baseball

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

thesource of the Nile

thesource of recurrent trouble

inception stresses the beginning of something without implying causes.

the business has been a success since itsinception

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

the realroot of the violence

Examples ofroot in a Sentence

Noun Elm trees have shallowroots. Pull weeds up by theroots so that they don't grow back. You can tell that she dyes her hair blonde because her darkroots are showing.Verb (1)rooted the post securely in the dirt

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage.Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.Send us feedback.

Noun

What’s more, a blend of botanical ingredients including licoricerootand coffee leaf extract firms and brightens the skin around the eyes.—

Jenny Berg,Vogue, 22 Mar. 2025This market can trace itsrootsto 1921 and has been in its current 49-acre location since 1956.—

Skye Sherman,Southern Living, 22 Mar. 2025

Verb

Taurus, connected to stability, beauty and abundance, invites us torootourselves in the present and reap the rewards of hard work.—

Valerie Mesa,People.com, 22 Mar. 2025Love is just one of a handful of celebrities who have abandoned the U.S. and fled to the U.K. orrootedfurther in foreign countries as the second Trump administration goes into full swing.—

Kevin Dolak,The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2025See All Example Sentences forroot

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old Englishrōt, from Old Norse; akin to Old Englishwyrt root, Latinradix, Greekrhiza

Verb (2)

alteration ofwroot, from Middle Englishwroten, from Old Englishwrōtan; akin to Old High Germanruozzan to root

Verb (3)

perhaps alteration ofroutentry 5

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined atsense 1b

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined atintransitive sense

Verb (2)

1516, in the meaning defined atintransitive sense 1

Verb (3)

1889, in the meaning defined atsense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use ofroot was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Phrases Containingroot

Rhymes forroot

See All Rhymes forroot

Browse Nearby Words

rooster tail

root

Root

See all Nearby Words

Articles Related toroot

sweet smart pug puppy dog sitting in front of blackboard with chalk question marks

15 Words That Used to Mean Something...

Including the secret history of 'secretary'

Unmixing the Mix-up of 'Root,' 'Route,'...

Homographs and homophones are at the root of it all.

The Roots of 'Radical'

Getting down to what's under the surface

Cite this Entry

Style

“Root.”Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/root. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

root

1 of 4noun

ˈrüt

ˈru̇t

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

:an underground plant part especially when fleshy and edible

:the part of a tooth within the socket

: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

:an original cause:source

theroots of evil

:the ancestors of a person or a group of persons

people tracing theirroots

:something that lies under and supports

theroots of a mountain chain

:coreentry 1sense 1,heart

theroot of the problem

:a close relationship with a social environment

hasroots in the South

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

2 is a 4throot of 16 because 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 = 16

:a solution of a polynomial equation with one unknown

(x + 1) (x - 1) = 0 has theroots x = -1 andx = 1

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

"butler" and "bottle" come from the same Latinroot

rooted

-əd

adjective

rootless

-ləs

adjective

rootlike

-ˌlīk

adjective

root

2 of 4verb

:to form or enable to form roots

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

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

root out spies

root

3 of 4verb

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

pigsrooting for fungi

root

4 of 4verb

ˈrüt

ˈru̇t

:cheerentry 2sense 2

:to wish for the success of someone or something

rooting for the underdog

rooternoun

Etymology

Noun

Old Englishrōt "root of a plant"; of Norse origin

Verb

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

Medical Definition

root

noun

ˈrüt

ˈru̇t

: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

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

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

:the enlarged basal part of a hair within the skin

called alsohair root

:the proximal end of a nerve

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

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

theroot of the tongue

rootless