root : Idioms & Phrases

Index


adventitious root

  • noun root growing in an unusual location e.g. from a stem
WordNet

ague root

  • noun colicroot having a scurfy or granuliferous perianth and white flowers; southeastern United States
    Aletris farinosa; ague grass.
WordNet

alum root

Al"um root`
Definitions
  1. (Bot.) A North American herb (Heuchera Americana) of the Saxifrage family, whose root has astringent properties.
Webster 1913

anterior root

  • noun one of two the two roots of a spinal nerve that passes ventrally from the spinal cord and that consists of motor fibers
    anterior root; ventral horn; anterior horn.
WordNet

Aërial roots

  • . (Bot.) (a) Small roots emitted from the stem of a plant in the open air, which, attaching themselves to the bark of trees, etc., serve to support the plant. (b) Large roots growing from the stem, etc., which descend and establish themselves in the soil. See Illust. of Mangrove.
Webster 1913

Biquadratic root of a number

  • the square root of the square root of that number. Thus the square root of 81 is 9, and the square root of 9 is 3, which is the biquadratic root of 81. Hutton.
Webster 1913

black root rot fungus

  • noun fungus causing black root rot in apples
    Xylaria mali.
WordNet

blueberry root

  • noun tall herb of eastern North America and Asia having blue berrylike fruit and a thick knotty rootstock formerly used medicinally
    blueberry root; papooseroot; blue cohosh; Caulophyllum thalictrioides; papoose root; squawroot; Caulophyllum thalictroides.
WordNet

Bowman's root

  • . (Bot.) See Indian physic, under Indian.
Webster 1913

Brier root

  • the root of the southern Smilax laurifolia and S. Walleri; used for tobacco pipes.
Webster 1913

brown root rot fungus

  • noun fungus causing brown root rot in plants of the pea and potato and cucumber families
    Thielavia basicola.
WordNet

Cancer root

  • (Bot.), the name of several low plants, mostly parasitic on roots, as the beech drops, the squawroot, etc.
Webster 1913

celery root

  • noun grown for its thickened edible aromatic root
    Apium graveolens rapaceum; root celery; celery root; knob celery; celeriac.
  • noun thickened edible aromatic root of a variety of celery plant
    celeriac.
WordNet

cervical root syndrome

  • noun an abnormal condition resulting from compression of spinal nerve roots in the neck region; involves neck pains and muscular weakness and paresthesia
    cervical disc syndrome.
WordNet

characteristic root of a square matrix

  • noun (mathematics) any number such that a given square matrix minus that number times the identity matrix has a zero determinant
    eigenvalue; eigenvalue of a matrix; eigenvalue of a square matrix.
WordNet

chay root

Chay" root`
Etymology
Tamil shaya.
Definitions
  1. The root of the Oldenlandia umbellata, native in India, which yieds a durable red dyestuff. Written also choy root.
Webster 1913

chicory root

  • noun the dried root of the chicory plant: used as a coffee substitute
    chicory.
  • noun root of the chicory plant roasted and ground to substitute for or adulterate coffee
    chicory.
WordNet

China root

  • (Med.), the rootstock of a species of Smilax (S. China, from the East Indies; formerly much esteemed for the purposes that sarsaparilla is now used for. Also the galanga root (from Alpinia Gallanga and Alpinia officinarum).
Webster 1913

chocolate root

  • noun erect perennial of north temperate zone having pinnate leaves and a few nodding flowers with a brown-purple calyx and orange and pink petals
    water avens; purple avens; Geum rivale; Indian chocolate.
WordNet

choy root

Choy" root`
Definitions
  1. See Chay root.
Webster 1913

clover-root

  • noun hairy Eurasian plant with small yellow flowers and an astringent root formerly used medicinally
    herb bennet; Geum urbanum; cloveroot; wood avens.
WordNet

Club root

  • (Bot.), a disease of cabbages, by which the roots become distorted and the heads spoiled.
Webster 1913

colic root

  • noun any of several perennials of the genus Aletris having grasslike leaves and bitter roots reputed to cure colic
    colic root; star grass; crow corn; colicroot.
WordNet

Coral root

  • noun a wildflower of the genus Corallorhiza growing from a hard mass of rhizomes associated with a fungus that aids in absorbing nutrients from the forest floor
WordNet
  • (Bot.), a genus (Corallorhiza) of orchideous plants, of a yellowish or brownish red color, parasitic on roots of other plants, and having curious jointed or knotted roots not unlike some kinds of coral. See Illust. under Coralloid.
Webster 1913

coral-root bittercress

  • noun European bittercress having a knotted white rootstock
    Dentaria bulbifera; coralwort; coralroot; Cardamine bulbifera.
WordNet

crested coral root

  • noun orchid with yellowish-brown flowers with dark veins; southeastern Arizona to the eastern United States
    Hexalectris spicata.
WordNet

crinkle root

  • noun North American herb with pungent scaly or toothed roots
    crinkleroot; Dentaria diphylla; crinkle root; crinkle-root; toothwort; Cardamine diphylla.
WordNet

crinkle-root

  • noun North American herb with pungent scaly or toothed roots
    crinkleroot; Dentaria diphylla; crinkle root; crinkle-root; toothwort; Cardamine diphylla.
WordNet

Cube root

  • noun a number that when multiplied three times equals a given number
WordNet
  • . (Math.), the number or quantity which, multiplied into itself, and then into the product, produces the given cube; thus, 3 is the cube root of 27, for 3x3x3 = 27.
Webster 1913

culver's root

  • noun a tall perennial herb having spikes of small white or purple flowers; common in eastern North America
    Veronicastrum virginicum; whorlywort; Culver's physic; Culvers physic; Culver's root.
WordNet

culvers root

  • noun a tall perennial herb having spikes of small white or purple flowers; common in eastern North America
    Veronicastrum virginicum; whorlywort; Culver's physic; Culvers physic; Culver's root.
WordNet

deep-rooted

  • adjective satellite (used especially of ideas or principles) deeply rooted; firmly fixed or held
    ingrained; deep-seated; planted; implanted.
    • deep-rooted prejudice
    • deep-seated differences of opinion
    • implanted convictions
    • ingrained habits of a lifetime
    • a deeply planted need
WordNet

derris root

  • noun woody vine having bright green leaves and racemes of rose-tinted white flowers; the swollen roots contain rotenone
    derris root; Derris elliptica.
WordNet

dorsal root

  • noun one of the two roots of a spinal nerve that passes dorsally to the spinal cord and that consists of sensory fibers
    dorsal horn.
WordNet

Dragon root

  • (Bot.), an American aroid plant (Arisæma Dracontium); green dragon.
Webster 1913

early coral root

  • noun plant having clumps of nearly leafless pale yellowish to greenish stems bearing similarly colored flowers with white lower lips; northern New Mexico north through South Dakota and Washington to Alaska
    Corallorhiza trifida; early coral root.
WordNet

Fever root

  • (Bot.), an American herb of the genus Triosteum (T. perfoliatum); called also feverwort amd horse gentian.
Webster 1913

fibrous-rooted begonia

  • noun any of numerous begonias having fibrous rather than tuberous or rhizomatous roots
WordNet

finger-root

  • noun tall leafy European biennial or perennial having spectacular clusters of large tubular pink-purple flowers; leaves yield drug digitalis and are poisonous to livestock
    fairy bell; Digitalis purpurea; fingerroot; fingerflower; common foxglove; finger-flower.
WordNet

Flag root

  • the root of the sweet flag.
Webster 1913

grass roots

  • noun the essential foundation or source
    • the problem was attacked at the grass roots
  • noun the common people at a local level (as distinguished from the centers of political activity)
WordNet

hairy root

  • noun a phase of crown gall (especially in apples) during which there is abnormal development of fine fibrous roots
WordNet

Hollow root

  • . (Bot.) See Moschatel.
Webster 1913

horseradish root

  • noun the root of the horseradish plant; it is grated or ground and used for seasoning
    horseradish.
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licorice root

  • noun root of licorice used in flavoring e.g. candy and liqueurs and medicines
WordNet

mandrake root

  • noun the root of the mandrake plant; used medicinally or as a narcotic
    mandrake.
WordNet

Multiple primary root

  • (Bot.), a name given to the numerous roots emitted from the radicle in many plants, as the squash.
Webster 1913

Musk root

  • (Bot.), the name of several roots with a strong odor, as that of the nard (Nardostachys Jatamansi) and of a species of Angelica.
Webster 1913

Musquash root

  • (Bot.), an umbelliferous plant (Cicuta maculata), having a poisonous root. See Water hemlock.
Webster 1913

Ordeal root

  • (Bot.) the root of a species of Strychnos growing in West Africa, used, like the ordeal bean, in trials for witchcraft.
Webster 1913

Orris root

  • the fragrant rootstock of the orris.
Webster 1913

pale coral root

  • noun plant having clumps of nearly leafless pale yellowish to greenish stems bearing similarly colored flowers with white lower lips; northern New Mexico north through South Dakota and Washington to Alaska
    Corallorhiza trifida; early coral root.
WordNet

papoose root

  • noun tall herb of eastern North America and Asia having blue berrylike fruit and a thick knotty rootstock formerly used medicinally
    blueberry root; papooseroot; blue cohosh; Caulophyllum thalictrioides; papoose root; squawroot; Caulophyllum thalictroides.
WordNet

Pappoose root

  • . (Bot.) See Cohosh.
Webster 1913

Pepper root

  • noun North American herb with pungent scaly or toothed roots
    crinkleroot; Dentaria diphylla; crinkle root; crinkle-root; toothwort; Cardamine diphylla.
WordNet
  • . (Bot.). See Coralwort.
Webster 1913

Pleurisy root

  • noun erect perennial of eastern and southern United States having showy orange flowers
    butterfly weed; Indian paintbrush; pleurisy root; chigger flower; chiggerflower; Asclepias tuberosa; orange milkweed.
WordNet
  • . (Bot.) (a) The large tuberous root of a kind of milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) which is used as a remedy for pleuritic and other diseases . (b) The plant itself, which has deep orange-colored flowers; called also butterfly weed.
Webster 1913

Premorse rootleaves

  • (Bot.), such as have an abrupt, ragged, and irregular termination, as if bitten off short.
Webster 1913

Primary root

  • (Bot.), the central, first-formed, main root, from which the rootlets are given off.
Webster 1913

prop root

  • noun a root that grows from and supports the stem above the ground in plants such as mangroves
WordNet

Rape root

  • . Same as Rape.
Webster 1913

Rattlesnake root

  • noun herb of central and southern Europe having purple florets
    Prenanthes purpurea.
  • noun a plant of the genus Nabalus
WordNet
  • (Bot.), a name given to certain American species of the composite genus Prenanthes (P. alba and P. serpentaria), formerly asserted to cure the bite of the rattlesnake. Calling also lion's foot, gall of the earth, and white lettuce.
Webster 1913

Residual root

  • (Alg.), the root of a residual quantity, as &root;(a-b).
Webster 1913

Rheumatism root

  • . (Bot.) See Twinleaf.
Webster 1913

Root and branch

  • every part; wholly; completely; as, to destroy an error root and branch.
Webster 1913

Root barnacle

  • (Zoöl.), one of the Rhizocephala.
Webster 1913

root beer

  • noun carbonated drink containing extracts of roots and herbs
WordNet

root beer float

  • noun an ice-cream soda made with ice cream floating in root beer
WordNet

root canal

  • noun the passage in the root of a tooth through which its nerve and blood vessels enter the pulp cavity
WordNet

root cap

  • noun thimble-shaped mass of cells covering and protecting the growing tip of a root
WordNet

root celery

  • noun grown for its thickened edible aromatic root
    Apium graveolens rapaceum; root celery; celery root; knob celery; celeriac.
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root cellar

  • noun an excavation where root vegetables are stored
    cellar.
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root climber

  • noun a plant that climbs by its adventitious roots e.g. ivy
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root crop

  • noun crop grown for its enlarged roots: e.g. beets; potatoes; turnips
WordNet

root for

  • verb take sides with; align oneself with; show strong sympathy for
    pull.
    • We all rooted for the home team
    • I'm pulling for the underdog
    • Are you siding with the defender of the title?
WordNet

Root hair

  • noun thin hairlike outgrowth of an epidermal cell just behind the tip; absorbs nutrients from the soil
WordNet
  • (Bot.), one of the slender, hairlike fibers found on the surface of fresh roots. They are prolongations of the superficial cells of the root into minute tubes. Gray.
Webster 1913

Root leaf

  • (Bot.), a radical leaf. See Radical, a., 3 (b).
Webster 1913

Root louse

  • (Zoöl.), any plant louse, or aphid, which lives on the roots of plants, as the Phylloxera of the grapevine. See Phylloxera.
Webster 1913

Root of a nail

  • (Anat.), the part of a nail which is covered by the skin.
Webster 1913

Root of a tooth

  • (Anat.), the part of a tooth contained in the socket and consisting of one or more fangs.
Webster 1913

Root of an equation

  • (Alg.), that value which, substituted for the unknown quantity in an equation, satisfies the equation.
Webster 1913

root on

  • verb spur on or encourage especially by cheers and shouts
    urge; inspire; exhort; barrack; cheer; urge on; pep up.
    • The crowd cheered the demonstrating strikers
WordNet

root out

  • verb pull up by or as if by the roots
    uproot; extirpate; deracinate.
    • uproot the vine that has spread all over the garden
  • verb destroy completely, as if down to the roots
    exterminate; uproot; extirpate; eradicate.
    • the vestiges of political democracy were soon uprooted" "root out corruption
WordNet

root rot

  • noun disease characterized by root decay; caused by various fungi
WordNet

root system

  • noun a developed system of roots
    rootage.
WordNet

root vegetable

  • noun any of various fleshy edible underground roots or tubers
WordNet

root word

  • noun (linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed
    radical; stem; theme; base; root.
    • thematic vowels are part of the stem
WordNet

Root-and-branch men

  • radical reformers; a designation applied to the English Independents (1641). See Citation under Radical, n., 2.
Webster 1913

rooting reflex

  • noun reflex consisting of head-turning and sucking movements elicited in a normal infant by gently stroking the side of the mouth or cheek
WordNet

rose-root

  • noun Eurasian mountain plant with fleshy pink-tipped leaves and a cluster of yellow flowers
    Sedum rosea; midsummer-men.
WordNet

sarsaparilla root

  • noun dried root of any of various plants of the genus Smilax used as a flavoring agent
WordNet

Secondary roots

  • (Bot.), roots emitted from any part of the plant above the radicle.
Webster 1913

Seneca root, ∨ Seneca snakeroot

  • (Bot.), the rootstock of an American species of milkworth (Polygala Senega) having an aromatic but bitter taste. It is often used medicinally as an expectorant and diuretic, and, in large doses, as an emetic and cathartic. Written also Senega root, and Seneka root.
Webster 1913

senega root

  • noun eastern North American plant having a terminal cluster of small white flowers and medicinal roots
    senega snakeroot; Polygala senega; Seneca snakeroot; Seneka snakeroot; senega root.
WordNet

senga root

  • noun eastern North American plant having a terminal cluster of small white flowers and medicinal roots
    senega snakeroot; Polygala senega; Seneca snakeroot; Seneka snakeroot; senega root.
WordNet

spotted coral root

  • noun common coral root having yellowish- or reddish- or purplish-brown leafless stems bearing loose racemes of similarly colored flowers with white purple-spotted lips; Guatemala to Canada
    Corallorhiza maculata.
WordNet

square root

  • noun a number that when multiplied by itself equals a given number
WordNet

Square root of a numberquantity

  • (Math.), that number or quantity which, multiplied by itself produces the given number or quantity.
Webster 1913

squaw root

  • noun tall herb of eastern North America and Asia having blue berrylike fruit and a thick knotty rootstock formerly used medicinally
    blueberry root; papooseroot; blue cohosh; Caulophyllum thalictrioides; papoose root; squawroot; Caulophyllum thalictroides.
WordNet

stone root

  • noun erect perennial strong-scented with serrate pointed leaves and a loose panicle of yellowish flowers; the eastern United States
    horseweed; stone root; horse balm; richweed; stoneroot; Collinsonia canadensis.
WordNet

stone-root

  • noun erect perennial strong-scented with serrate pointed leaves and a loose panicle of yellowish flowers; the eastern United States
    horseweed; stone root; horse balm; richweed; stoneroot; Collinsonia canadensis.
WordNet

striped coral root

  • noun nearly leafless wildflower with erect reddish-purple stems bearing racemes of pale pinkish and brownish-striped flowers; western Canada to Mexico
    Corallorhiza striata.
WordNet

take root

  • verb become settled or established and stable in one's residence or life style
    settle; root; steady down; settle down.
    • He finally settled down
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taro root

  • noun tropical starchy tuberous root
    cocoyam; edda; dasheen; taro.
WordNet

The extraction of roots

  • . (Math.) (a) The operation of finding the root of a given number or quantity. (b) The method or rule by which the operation is performed; evolution.
Webster 1913

tinker's root

  • noun coarse weedy American perennial herb with large usually perfoliate leaves and purple or dull red flowers
    Triostium perfoliatum; feverroot; wild coffee; horse gentian.
WordNet

To extract the root

  • (Math.), to ascertain the root of a number or quantity.
Webster 1913

To strike root, To take root

  • to send forth roots; to become fixed in the earth, etc., by a root; hence, in general, to become planted, fixed, or established; to increase and spread; as, an opinion takes root. "The bended twigs take root." Milton.
Webster 1913

To take place, root, sides, stock, etc.

  • See under Place, Root, Side, etc.
Webster 1913

tooth root

  • noun the part of a tooth that is embedded in the jaw and serves as support
    root.
WordNet

tuba root

  • noun woody vine having bright green leaves and racemes of rose-tinted white flowers; the swollen roots contain rotenone
    derris root; Derris elliptica.
WordNet

tuber root

  • noun erect perennial of eastern and southern United States having showy orange flowers
    butterfly weed; Indian paintbrush; pleurisy root; chigger flower; chiggerflower; Asclepias tuberosa; orange milkweed.
WordNet

Turmeric root

  • noun perennial herb of northeastern United States having a thick knotted yellow rootstock and large rounded leaves
    goldenseal; turmeric root; golden seal; Hydrastis Canadensis.
WordNet
  • . (Bot.) (a) Bloodroot. (b) Orangeroot.
Webster 1913

turnip-rooted celery

  • noun grown for its thickened edible aromatic root
    Apium graveolens rapaceum; root celery; celery root; knob celery; celeriac.
WordNet

turnip-rooted parsley

  • noun parsley with smooth leaves and enlarged edible taproot resembling a savory parsnip
    Hamburg parsley; Petroselinum crispum tuberosum.
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Unicorn root

  • noun any of several perennials of the genus Aletris having grasslike leaves and bitter roots reputed to cure colic
    colic root; star grass; crow corn; colicroot.
WordNet
  • (Bot.), a name of two North American plants, the yellow-flowered colicroot (Aletris farinosa) and the blazing star (Chamælirium luteum). Both are used in medicine.
Webster 1913

ventral root

  • noun one of two the two roots of a spinal nerve that passes ventrally from the spinal cord and that consists of motor fibers
    anterior root; ventral horn; anterior horn.
WordNet

yellow root

  • noun perennial herb of northeastern United States having a thick knotted yellow rootstock and large rounded leaves
    goldenseal; turmeric root; golden seal; Hydrastis Canadensis.
WordNet