An Encylopedia Britannica Company

root

1 root /ˈruːt/ noun
plural roots
1 root
/ˈruːt/
noun
plural roots
Britannica Dictionary definition of ROOT
[count] : the part of a plant that grows underground, gets water from the ground, and holds the plant in place
see color picture on this page
[count] : the part of a tooth, hair, fingernail, etc., that is attached to the body
[count]
: the cause or source of something usually singular
: the origin of something usually plural
roots [plural]
: the family history of a person or a group of people
: a special connection to something + in
see also grass roots
[count] mathematics : a number that is multiplied by itself a certain number of times to produce another number see also cube root, square root
[count] : a word from which other words are formed

put down roots

: to become a member of a community and begin to feel that it is your home : to settle and live in one place

root and branch

chiefly British
: complete or thorough
: completely or thoroughly

take root

of a plant : to grow and develop roots
: to begin to develop
2 root /ˈruːt/ verb
roots; rooted; rooting
2 root
/ˈruːt/
verb
roots; rooted; rooting
Britannica Dictionary definition of ROOT
of a plant
[no object] : to grow and develop roots
[+ object] : to make (a plant) grow and develop roots
[+ object] : to make (someone) unable to move usually used as (be) rooted

root in

[phrasal verb]
root (something) in (something)
: to form, make, or develop (something) by using (something) as a basis
usually used as (be) rooted in
compare 3root, 4root
3 root /ˈruːt/ verb
roots; rooted; rooting
3 root
/ˈruːt/
verb
roots; rooted; rooting
Britannica Dictionary definition of ROOT
[no object]
always followed by an adverb or preposition : to search for something by moving around or by turning things over
of animals : to look for food under the ground by digging with the nose : grub

root out

[phrasal verb]
root (something or someone) out or root out (something or someone)
: to find and remove (something or someone)
: to find (something or someone) after searching for a long time
compare 2root, 4root
4 root /ˈruːt/ verb
roots; rooted; rooting
4 root
/ˈruːt/
verb
roots; rooted; rooting
Britannica Dictionary definition of ROOT

root for

[phrasal verb]
root for (someone or something)
: to express or show support for (a person, a team, etc.)
: to hope for the success of (someone or something)

root on

[phrasal verb]
root (someone or something) on US
: to help (someone or something) to win or succeed by expressing or showing strong support
compare 2root, 3root

— rooter

/ˈruːtɚ/ noun, plural rooters [count]