A root is the part of a plant that grows underground, anchoring it in place and drawing up water and nutrients from the soil. Without roots, a mighty oak tree would topple in the first strong wind, and a vegetable garden would quickly wither and die. Some roots, like carrots, store food that both the plant and humans can use.

The word also means the source or origin of something. When a doctor searches for the root cause of an illness, she's looking for what started the problem, the underlying reason behind the symptoms. If you're struggling in math, getting to the root of the difficulty might mean figuring out which earlier concept you didn't fully understand.

To root for someone means to cheer them on enthusiastically, like rooting for your soccer team during the championship.

When you root through a messy closet searching for your baseball glove, you're digging around persistently until you find what you need. And when an idea or habit takes root in your mind, it establishes itself firmly, growing stronger over time, just like a seedling developing deep roots in healthy soil.