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1[countable] the part of a plant that grows under the ground and absorbs water and minerals that it sends to the rest of the plant deep spreading roots I pulled the plant up by (= including) the roots. Tree roots can cause damage to buildings. root crops/vegetables (= plants whose roots you can eat, such as carrots) Topic CollocationsThe Living Worldanimals
- animals mate/breed/reproduce/feed (on something)
- fish/amphibians swim/spawn (= lay eggs)
- birds fly/migrate/nest/sing
- insects crawl/fly/bite/sting
- insects/bees/locusts swarm
- bees collect/gather nectar/pollen
- spiders spin/weave a web
- snakes/lizards shed their skins
- bears/hedgehogs/frogs hibernate
- insect larvae grow/develop/pupate
- an egg/a chick/a larva hatches
- attract/find/choose a mate
- produce/release eggs/sperm
- lay/fertilize/incubate/hatch eggs
- inhabit a forest/a reef/the coast
- mark/enter/defend (a) territory
- stalk/hunt/capture/catch/kill prey
- trees/plants grow/bloom/blossom/flower
- a seed germinates/sprouts
- leaves/buds/roots/shoots appear/develop/form
- flower buds swell/open
- a fungus grows/spreads/colonizes something
- pollinate/fertilize a flower/plant
- produce/release/spread/disperse pollen/seeds/spores
- produce/bear fruit
- develop/grow/form roots/shoots/leaves
- provide/supply/absorb/extract/release nutrients
- perform/increase/reduce photosynthesis
- bacteria/microbes/viruses grow/spread/multiply
- bacteria/microbes live/thrive in/on something
- bacteria/microbes/viruses evolve/colonize something/cause disease
- bacteria break something down/convert something (into something)
- a virus enters/invades something/the body
- a virus mutates/evolves/replicates (itself)
- be infected with/contaminated with/exposed to a new strain of a virus/drug-resistant bacteria
- contain/carry/harbor bacteria/a virus
- kill/destroy/eliminate harmful/deadly bacteria
of hair/tooth/nail - 2[countable] the part of a hair, tooth, nail, or tongue that attaches it to the rest of the body hair that is blonde at the ends and dark at the roots
- 3[countable, usually singular] the main cause of something, such as a problem or difficult situation Money, or love of money, is said to be the root of all evil. We have to get to the root of the problem. What lies at the root of his troubles is a sense of insecurity. What would you say was the root cause of the problem? origin
- 4[countable, usually plural] the origin or basis of something Flamenco has its roots in Arabic music. connection with place
- 5roots [plural] the feelings or connections that you have with a place because you have lived there or your family came from there I'm proud of my Italian roots. After 20 years in America, I still feel my roots are in England. of word
- 6[countable] (linguistics) the part of a word that has the main meaning and that its other forms are based on; a word that other words are formed from “Walk” is the root of “walks,” “walked,” “walking,” and “walker.” mathematics
- 7[countable] a quantity that, when multiplied by itself a particular number of times, produces another quantity see cube root, square root
- 1(of a plant) to develop roots
- 2to settle and live in one place After ten years traveling the world, she felt it was time to put down roots somewhere.
- 1(of a plant) to develop roots
- 2(of an idea) to become accepted widely Fortunately, militarism failed to take root in Europe as a whole.
of plant
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