Root

Root, rōōt, n. the part of a plant which is fixed in the earth, and which draws up sap from the soil: an edible root: anything like a root, a growing plant together with its root: the bottom: a word from which others are derived: the cause, occasion, or basis of anything: the source: the lowest place: the first ancestor, or progenitor: (math.) the factor of a quantity which multiplied by itself produces that quantity: any value of the unknown quantity in an equation which will render both sides of it identical.—v.i. to fix the root: to be firmly established: to tear up: to eradicate: to exterminate.—v.t. to plant in the earth: to implant deeply.—ns. Root′age, the act of striking roots; Root′-beer, a drink made from roots of dandelion, sassafras, &c.; Root′-bōr′er, an insect which bores the roots of plants.—adj. Root′-bound (Milt.), fixed in the earth by, or as by, the root.—ns. Root′-cap, a cap-like layer of cells at the tip of roots; Root′-crop, a crop of esculent roots, esp. of single-rooted plants, as turnips, &c.; Root′-dig′ger, a form of tongs for raising carrots, &c.; Root′-eat′er, any animal feeding habitually on roots.—adj. Root′ed, firmly planted: fixed by the roots: deep-seated, as a rooted dislike.—adv. Root′edly.—ns. Root′edness; Root′er.—adj. Root′-fast, firmly rooted.—ns. Root′-fī′bril, one of the fine divisions of a root; Root′-form, a form assumed by an insect when feeding on roots; Root′-graft′ing, the process of grafting scions on a part of the root of some appropriate stock; Root′-hair, a delicate filament developed from a single cell.—adj. Root′-head′ed, fixed as if rooted by the head.—ns. Root′-house, a rustic-house: a storehouse for potatoes, &c.; Root′-knot, an abnormal knot of a root.—adj. Root′less, destitute of roots.—ns. Root′let, a little root: a radicle; Root′-louse, one of the plant-lice; Root′-par′asite, a plant which grows upon, and derives its nourishment from, the root of another plant; Root′-pres′sure, an upward flow of sap, 'bleeding;' Root′-pulp′er, a mill for grinding roots; Root′-sheath, the sheath of the root of a hair or feather; Root′-stock (bot.), a prostrate rooting stem, either fleshy or woody, which yearly produces young branches or plants: origin.—adj. Root′y, abounding in roots: rank.—Root and branch, completely; Root of bitterness, a dangerous error drawing away to apostasy; Root of the matter, that which is essential.—Strike, or Take, root, to root, to become fixed. [Scand.; Ice. rót; Dan. rod; Goth. waurts, A.S. wyrt.]