Synonyms for

Roots

Verb / ru:ts / Another word for roots — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

The part of a plant that attaches it to the ground and takes in water and nutrients.

Synonyms & similar words

beginning base rout ascendant etymon theme origin settle antecedent descendant takeroot ancestor source rootle root solution rootage settledown toothroot rootword stem ascendent radical steadydown radicles taproots rootlets rhizomes tubers corms bulbs stolons runners suckers offsets haustoria

Synonyms by register

Formal

origins foundations bases sources

Informal

base bottom underpinnings

Literary

bedrock source wellspring

Antonyms

tops branches leaves crown shoot sprouts

Common collocations

  • deep roots
  • roots of a problem
  • plant roots
  • family roots
  • roots of evil
  • taproot
  • root system

Word family

noun root
verb root
adjective rootless

Usage note

The word 'roots' can refer to the literal underground part of a plant or metaphorically to origins or foundations. Be mindful of the context to avoid ambiguity.

Example sentences

  1. The roots of the flowers were just as beautiful as the petals.
  2. My dad pulled up the weeds by their roots so they wouldn't grow back.
  3. The carrots were fresh from the garden and still had bits of dirt on their roots.
  4. The plant's roots stretched deep into the soil.
  5. The tree's roots were so large they cracked the concrete sidewalk.

Quotes

  • The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet. - Aristotle
  • Love is the flower you've got to let grow. - John Lennon
  • A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots. - Marcus Garvey

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