root

Meanings

• (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
• the place where something begins, where it springs into being
  • "communism's Russian root"
• (linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed
• a number that, when multiplied by itself some number of times, equals a given number
• the set of values that give a true statement when substituted into an equation
• someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)
• a simple form inferred as the common basis from which related words in several languages can be derived by linguistic processes
• the part of a tooth that is embedded in the jaw and serves as support
• take root and begin to grow
  • "this plant roots quickly"
• come into existence, originate
  • "The problem roots in her depression"
• plant by the roots
• dig with the snout
  • "the pig was rooting for truffles"
• become settled or established and stable in one's residence or life style
• cause to take roots

Synonyms

ancestor, antecedent, ascendant, ascendent, base, beginning, etymon, origin, radical, root word, rootage, rootle, rout, settle, settle down, solution, source, steady down, stem, take root, theme, tooth root