root (
http://definr.com/root)
adj : arising from or going to the root; "a radical flaw in the
plan" [syn:
radical]
n 1: 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: (linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are
removed; "thematic vowels are part of the stem" [syn: {root
word},
base,
stem,
theme,
radical]
3: 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"
[syn:
beginning,
origin,
rootage,
source]
4: a number that when multiplied by itself some number of times
equals a given number
5: the set of values that give a true statement when
substituted into an equation [syn:
solution]
6: someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote
that a grandparent) [syn:
ancestor,
ascendant,
ascendent,
antecedent] [ant:
descendant]
7: a simple form inferred as the common basis from which
related words in several languages can be derived by
linguistic processes [syn:
etymon]
8: the part of a tooth that is embedded in the jaw and serves
as support [syn:
tooth root]
v 1: take root; begin to grow; of plants
2: come into existence, originate
3: plant by the roots
4: dig with the snout; "the pig was rooting for truffles" [syn:
rout,
rootle]
5: 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?" [syn:
side,
pull]
6: become settled or established and stable in one's residence
or life style; "He finally settled down" [syn:
settle, {take
root},
steady down,
settle down]
7: cause to take roots