Dictionary definition for: Root

1. (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

2. (v) take root and begin to grow; "this plant roots quickly"

3. (n) (linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed; "thematic vowels are part of the stem"

4. (v) come into existence, originate; "The problem roots in her depression"

5. (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"

6. (v) plant by the roots

7. (n) a number that when multiplied by itself some number of times equals a given number

8. (v) dig with the snout; "the pig was rooting for truffles"

9. (n) the set of values that give a true statement when substituted into an equation

10. (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?"

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"

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

14. (v) cause to take roots

15. (n) the part of a tooth that is embedded in the jaw and serves as support