root

(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; "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"

(linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed; "thematic vowels are part of the stem"

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; "He finally settled down"

cause to take roots