root
1 of 2nounthe underground part of a plant that absorbs water and minerals, sending it to other parts
B2Learn more on WikipediaA root is a fundamental part of a plant's structure that typically grows underground, anchoring the plant in the soil and absorbing water and nutrients from the surrounding environment. Roots come in various shapes and sizes, ranging from slender and fibrous to thick and tuberous, depending on the plant species and its habitat. They consist of several key parts, including the root cap, which protects the delicate growing tip, and the root hairs, which increase the surface area for nutrient absorption. Roots also store reserves of energy and nutrients for the plant to use during periods of growth or stress. In addition to anchoring the plant and absorbing water and nutrients, roots play a crucial role in stabilizing soil, preventing erosion, and interacting with soil microorganisms.
- She carefully planted the new tree, ensuring that its roots were well spread out in the hole to encourage healthy growth.
- The gardener dug up the old tree to remove its large, tangled roots that had spread throughout the garden.
- The root of the vegetable was harvested, revealing a crisp and fresh produce ready for cooking.
- The herbalist used the root of the herb in the remedy, valuing its medicinal properties.
(in linguistics) the base form of a word, remaining after removing all prefixes and suffixes
A root is the most basic part of a word that carries its primary meaning and cannot be broken down into smaller meaningful components. Roots serve as the foundation for word formation, and affixes, such as prefixes or suffixes, can be added to them to create new words or alter their meanings. For example, in the word "unhappiness", the root is "happy", which conveys the core meaning of the word. Roots are essential in linguistics because they help in understanding the meaning and relationships of related words within a language.
the values that satisfy an equation, making it true
a value that, when multiplied by itself a specified number of times, results in the given number
- The square root of 16 is 4.
- Negative numbers can have imaginary roots, such as the square root of -1 being i.
- Calculators can quickly find the roots of large numbers.
- The root of a number is fundamental in algebra and appears in many real-world applications.
- Finding the cube root of 27 involves determining the number that, when multiplied by itself three times, equals 27.
the primary cause of something
B2- Understanding the root of the problem is essential for finding an effective solution to the conflict.
- The therapist helped her uncover the root of her anxiety, which was tied to past experiences.
- Finding the root of the misunderstanding allowed them to resolve the issue and improve communication.
- The company conducted a thorough analysis to determine the root of the financial problems affecting their performance.
the embedded or base part of a bodily structure, such as a hair, nail, or tooth
(in linguistics) a reconstructed ancestral form from which related words in different languages are derived
an ancestor, usually more distant than a grandparent