Dictionary entry details
• ROOT (noun)
Meaning:
(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
Classified under:
Nouns denoting plants
Hypernyms ("root" is a kind of...):
plant organ (a functional and structural unit of a plant or fungus)
Meronyms (parts of "root"):
bark (tough protective covering of the woody stems and roots of trees and other woody plants)
root hair (thin hairlike outgrowth of an epidermal cell just behind the tip; absorbs nutrients from the soil)
root cap (thimble-shaped mass of cells covering and protecting the growing tip of a root)
Meronyms (substance of "root"):
parenchyma (the primary tissue of higher plants composed of thin-walled cells that remain capable of cell division even when mature; constitutes the greater part of leaves, roots, the pulp of fruits, and the pith of stems)
Domain category:
botany; phytology (the branch of biology that studies plants)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "root"):
senega (dried root of two plants of the genus Polygala containing an irritating saponin)
mandrake; mandrake root (the root of the mandrake plant; used medicinally or as a narcotic)
cassava; manioc (cassava root eaten as a staple food after drying and leaching; source of tapioca)
carrot (deep orange edible root of the cultivated carrot plant)
parsnip (the whitish root of cultivated parsnip)
pneumatophore (an air-filled root (submerged or exposed) that can function as a respiratory organ of a marsh or swamp plant)
taproot ((botany) main root of a plant growing straight downward from the stem)
adventitious root (root growing in an unusual location e.g. from a stem)
rootlet (small root or division of a root)
prop root (a root that grows from and supports the stem above the ground in plants such as mangroves)
licorice root (root of licorice used in flavoring e.g. candy and liqueurs and medicines)
sarsaparilla root (dried root of any of various plants of the genus Smilax used as a flavoring agent)
calamus (the aromatic root of the sweet flag used medicinally)
cocoyam; dasheen; eddo; taro (edible starchy tuberous root of taro plants)
ginseng (aromatic root of ginseng plants)
horseradish; horseradish root (the root of the horseradish plant; it is grated or ground and used for seasoning)
radish (pungent edible root of any of various cultivated radish plants)
chicory; chicory root (the dried root of the chicory plant: used as a coffee substitute)
oyster plant; salsify (edible root of the salsify plant)
Hottentot bread; Hottentot's bread (thick edible rootstock of elephant's-foot)
briarroot (hard woody root of the briar Erica arborea)
orris; orrisroot (fragrant rootstock of various irises especially Florentine iris; used in perfumes and medicines)
Holonyms ("root" is a part of...):
root system; rootage (a developed system of roots)
Meaning:
(linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Synonyms:
stem; root word; root; theme; radical; base
Context example:
thematic vowels are part of the stem
Hypernyms ("root" is a kind of...):
descriptor; form; signifier; word form (the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something)
Domain category:
linguistics (the scientific study of language)
Meaning:
The place where something begins, where it springs into being
Classified under:
Nouns denoting spatial position
Synonyms:
origin; source; root; rootage; beginning
Context examples:
the Italian beginning of the Renaissance / Jupiter was the origin of the radiation / Pittsburgh is the source of the Ohio River / communism's Russian root
Hypernyms ("root" is a kind of...):
point (the precise location of something; a spatially limited location)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "root"):
trail head; trailhead (the beginning of a trail)
point source (a spatially constricted by concentrated source (especially of radiation or pollution))
home (place where something began and flourished)
birthplace; cradle; place of origin; provenance; provenience (where something originated or was nurtured in its early existence)
jumping-off place; point of departure (a place from which an enterprise or expedition is launched)
wellhead; wellspring (the source of water for a well)
headwaters (the source of a river)
fountainhead; head; headspring (the source of water from which a stream arises)
spring (a point at which water issues forth)
derivation (the source or origin from which something derives (i.e. comes or issues))
Meaning:
A number that when multiplied by itself some number of times equals a given number
Classified under:
Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure
Hypernyms ("root" is a kind of...):
number (a concept of quantity derived from zero and units)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "root"):
square root (a number that when multiplied by itself equals a given number)
cube root (a number that when multiplied three times equals a given number)
Meaning:
The set of values that give a true statement when substituted into an equation
Classified under:
Nouns denoting groupings of people or objects
Synonyms:
solution; root
Hypernyms ("root" is a kind of...):
set ((mathematics) an abstract collection of numbers or symbols)
Meaning:
Someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Synonyms:
ancestor; antecedent; ascendent; ascendant; root
Hypernyms ("root" is a kind of...):
relation; relative (a person related by blood or marriage)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "root"):
primogenitor; progenitor (an ancestor in the direct line)
foremother (a woman ancestor)
father; forefather; sire (the founder of a family)
forbear; forebear (a person from whom you are descended)
ancestress (a woman ancestor)
Meaning:
A simple form inferred as the common basis from which related words in several languages can be derived by linguistic processes
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Synonyms:
etymon; root
Hypernyms ("root" is a kind of...):
descriptor; form; signifier; word form (the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something)
Meaning:
The part of a tooth that is embedded in the jaw and serves as support
Classified under:
Nouns denoting body parts
Synonyms:
tooth root; root
Hypernyms ("root" is a kind of...):
anatomical structure; bodily structure; body structure; complex body part; structure (a particular complex anatomical part)
Meronyms (parts of "root"):
cement; cementum (a specialized bony substance covering the root of a tooth)
Holonyms ("root" is a part of...):
tooth (hard bonelike structures in the jaws of vertebrates; used for biting and chewing or for attack and defense)
• ROOT (verb)
Meaning:
Take root and begin to grow
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Context example:
this plant roots quickly
Hypernyms (to "root" is one way to...):
grow (become larger, greater, or bigger; expand or gain)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Meaning:
Come into existence, originate
Classified under:
Verbs of being, having, spatial relations
Context example:
The problem roots in her depression
Hypernyms (to "root" is one way to...):
become (come into existence)
Sentence frames:
Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Meaning:
Plant by the roots
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Hypernyms (to "root" is one way to...):
plant; set (put or set (seeds, seedlings, or plants) into the ground)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
Meaning:
Dig with the snout
Classified under:
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging
Synonyms:
rootle; rout; root
Context example:
the pig was rooting for truffles
Hypernyms (to "root" is one way to...):
cut into; delve; dig; turn over (turn up, loosen, or remove earth)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s something
Meaning:
Take sides with; align oneself with; show strong sympathy for
Classified under:
Verbs of fighting, athletic activities
Synonyms:
side; root; pull
Context examples:
We all rooted for the home team / I'm pulling for the underdog / Are you siding with the defender of the title?
Hypernyms (to "root" is one way to...):
back; endorse; indorse; plump for; plunk for; support (be behind; approve of)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s PP
Meaning:
Become settled or established and stable in one's residence or life style
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
take root; steady down; settle down; root; settle
Context example:
He finally settled down
Hypernyms (to "root" is one way to...):
stabilise; stabilize (become stable or more stable)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "root"):
roost (settle down or stay, as if on a roost)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP
Meaning:
Cause to take roots
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Hypernyms (to "root" is one way to...):
grow (cause to grow or develop)
Sentence frame:
Somebody ----s something
