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root JUST WRITTEN FOR YOU

/ɹuːt/ · root
noun
  1. The part of a plant, usually underground, that anchors the plant and absorbs water and nutrients. The oak's roots spread wide to gather moisture from the dry soil.
  2. A root vegetable, such as a carrot or beet. She sliced the root into thin rounds for the stew.
  3. The portion of a tooth that extends into the jawbone, holding the tooth in place. Root decay can cause severe pain if left untreated.
verb
  1. To grow roots; to become established in the ground. The cuttings began to root after a week in the moist soil.
  2. To cause a plant cutting to develop roots. The horticulturist rooted the rose cuttings in a propagation tray.
  3. To become firmly fixed or established in a place or situation. His ideas quickly rooted themselves in the team's strategy.
Did you know? In Unix-like operating systems, the term “root” for the superuser originates from the root directory, the top of the file system hierarchy.
Written by Lexi Wordsworth, Dictionary Editor 0 lookups Added Jul 14, 2026