Dictionary definition for: Root
1. (v) take root and begin to grow; "this plant roots quickly"
2. (n) (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
3. (v) come into existence, originate; "The problem roots in her depression"
4. (n) (linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed; "thematic vowels are part of the stem"
6. (n) the place where something begins, where it springs into being; "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"
7. (v) dig with the snout; "the pig was rooting for truffles"
8. (n) a number that when multiplied by itself some number of times equals a given number
9. (v) take sides with; align oneself with; show strong sympathy for; "We all rooted for the home team" "I''m pulling for the underdog" "Are you siding with the defender of the title?"
10. (n) the set of values that give a true statement when substituted into an equation
11. (n) someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
12. (v) become settled or established and stable in one''s residence or life style; "He finally settled down"
14. (n) a simple form inferred as the common basis from which related words in several languages can be derived by linguistic processes
15. (n) the part of a tooth that is embedded in the jaw and serves as support
WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved.
