English dictionary



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English noun: root

1. root (plant) (botany) the usually underground organ that lacks buds or leaves or nodes; absorbs water and mineral salts; usually it anchors the plant to the ground


Broader (hypernym)plant organ


Narrower (hyponym)adventitious root, briarroot, calamus, carrot, cassava, chicory, chicory root, cocoyam, dasheen, eddo, ginseng, horseradish, horseradish root, Hottentot bread, Hottentot's bread, licorice root, mandrake, mandrake root, manioc, orris, orrisroot, oyster plant, parsnip, pneumatophore, prop root, radish, rootlet, salsify, sarsaparilla root, senega, taproot, taro


Part holonymbark, root cap, root hair


Part meronymroot system, rootage


Substance holonymparenchyma


Domain categorybotany, phytology

2. root (location) the place where something begins, where it springs into being


SamplesThe Italian beginning of the Renaissance.
Jupiter was the origin of the radiation.
Pittsburgh is the source of the Ohio River.
Communism's Russian root.


Synonymsbeginning, origin, rootage, source


Broader (hypernym)point


Narrower (hyponym)birthplace, cradle, derivation, fountainhead, head, headspring, headwater, home, jumping-off place, place of origin, point of departure, point source, provenance, provenience, spring, trail head, trailhead, wellhead, wellspring

3. root (communication) (linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed


SamplesThematic vowels are part of the stem.


Synonymsbase, radical, root word, stem, theme


Broader (hypernym)descriptor, form, signifier, word form


Domain categorylinguistics

4. root (quantity) a number that, when multiplied by itself some number of times, equals a given number


Broader (hypernym)number


Narrower (hyponym)cube root, square root

5. root (group) the set of values that give a true statement when substituted into an equation


Synonymssolution


Broader (hypernym)set

6. root (person) someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)


Synonymsancestor, antecedent, ascendant, ascendent


Broader (hypernym)relation, relative


Narrower (hyponym)ancestress, father, forbear, forebear, forefather, foremother, primogenitor, progenitor, sire


Antonymsdescendant, descendent

7. root (communication) a simple form inferred as the common basis from which related words in several languages can be derived by linguistic processes


Synonymsetymon


Broader (hypernym)descriptor, form, signifier, word form

8. root (body) the part of a tooth that is embedded in the jaw and serves as support


Synonymstooth root


Broader (hypernym)anatomical structure, bodily structure, body structure, complex body part, structure


Part holonymcement, cementum


Part meronymtooth


English verb: root

1. root (change) take root and begin to grow


SamplesThis plant roots quickly.


Pattern of useSomething ----s.
Something is ----ing PP


Broader (hypernym)grow


Verb grouproot

2. root (stative) come into existence, originate


SamplesThe problem roots in her depression.


Pattern of useSomething ----s.
Somebody ----s


Broader (hypernym)become

3. root (contact) plant by the roots


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something


Broader (hypernym)plant, set

4. root (contact) dig with the snout


SamplesThe pig was rooting for truffles.


Synonymsrootle, rout


Pattern of useSomething ----s something


Broader (hypernym)cut into, delve, dig, turn over

5. root (change) become settled or established and stable in one's residence or life style


SamplesHe finally settled down.


Synonymssettle, settle down, steady down, take root


Pattern of useSomebody ----s.
Somebody ----s PP


Broader (hypernym)stabilise, stabilize


Narrower (hyponym)roost

6. root (change) cause to take roots


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something


Broader (hypernym)grow


Verb grouproot









Based on WordNet 3.0 copyright © Princeton University.
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