Pronunciation: /ruːt/
noun the part of a plant that attaches it to the ground and gathers water and nutrients
A1 Plants absorb water and nutrients from the soil through their roots.
A2 The dentist recommended pulling out the decayed tooth by its root.
B1 Many traditional medicines use roots and herbs for healing purposes.
B2 Understanding the root cause of a problem is essential for finding a solution.
C1 The linguist traced the word's root back to its Latin origin.
C2 The historian delved deep into the roots of the ancient civilization to uncover its secrets.
verb to establish deeply and firmly
A1 Plants root themselves in the soil to absorb water and nutrients.
A2 I need to root through my closet to find my missing shoe.
B1 The detective tried to root out the truth about the crime.
B2 The archaeologist spent years trying to root out the ancient civilization's secrets.
C1 The journalist worked tirelessly to root out corruption within the government.
C2 The scientist's research helped to root out the underlying causes of the disease.
adjective basic or fundamental
A1 Plants need water to grow strong roots.
A2 The root cause of the issue was a lack of communication.
B1 She decided to go back to her roots and live in the countryside.
B2 The company's success is deeply rooted in its innovative approach.
C1 The historian traced the roots of the conflict back to ancient times.
C2 His deep-rooted beliefs shaped his actions throughout his life.
adverb rootedly
A1 I watered the plant and the roots grew deeper.
A2 She carefully pulled out the weed, making sure to get the roots.
B1 The company's success can be traced back to its roots in innovation.
B2 The musician's style has deep roots in traditional folk music.
C1 His argument was deeply rooted in years of research and experience.
C2 The artist's work explores the root causes of social injustice.
formal The root of the problem lies in the lack of communication within the team.
informal I heard the root cause of the issue was a misunderstanding between them.
slang She's always at the root of drama in our friend group.
figurative His love for music has deep roots in his family's musical heritage.
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roots
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have rooted
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