root
verb/ruːt/
/ruːt/
Verb Forms
Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they root | /ruːt/ /ruːt/ |
| he / she / it roots | /ruːts/ /ruːts/ |
| past simple rooted | /ˈruːtɪd/ /ˈruːtɪd/ |
| past participle rooted | /ˈruːtɪd/ /ˈruːtɪd/ |
| -ing form rooting | /ˈruːtɪŋ/ /ˈruːtɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] root (something) to grow roots; to cause or encourage a plant to grow roots
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- [intransitive] to search for something by moving things or turning things over synonym rummage
- root (about/around) for something pigs rooting for food
- Who's been rooting around in my desk?
- root (through something) (for something) ‘It must be here somewhere,’ she said, rooting through the suitcase.
- Cats had been rooting in the garbage bags again.
- [intransitive, transitive] root (somebody) (Australian English, New Zealand English, taboo, slang) to have sex with somebody
of plants
search
sex
Word Originverb Old English wrōtan, of Germanic origin; related to Old English wrōt ‘snout’, German Rüssel ‘snout’, and perhaps ultimately to Latin rodere ‘gnaw’.
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root