[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/roots/) [dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [R](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/r/) / roots # roots noun (roots, plural of root; root — a root); verb (roots, from root) «roots» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova. ## Everyday 1. Roots are the parts of a plant that grow under the ground; they hold the plant in place and take in water and minerals. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/roots/#m1) 2. The roots of a tooth or hair are the parts that hold it in the body. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/roots/#m2) 3. Your roots are the place and family you come from. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/roots/#m3) 4. The roots of a problem are where it starts. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/roots/#m4) 5. In maths, a root of a number, like the square root, is a number that multiplies by itself to give that number. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/roots/#m5) ### In the lessons In science roots anchor plants and take up water; carrots and potatoes are roots or underground parts we eat; tree roots can crack pavements. In everyday life, people say they have Irish or Greek roots (family history). In English lessons, a root word is the main part of a word before prefixes and suffixes are added (happy is the root of unhappiness). In maths the square root of 9 is 3 because 3 × 3 = 9. ### Examples - The roots take in water from the soil. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/roots/#x1) - Tree roots lifted up the pavement. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/roots/#x2) - Carrots are roots that we eat. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/roots/#x3) - My family has roots in Scotland. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/roots/#x4) - «Kind» is the root word of «kindness». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/roots/#x5) - The square root of 16 is 4. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/roots/#x6) - The dentist said the tooth's root was healthy. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/roots/#x7) - We need to find the roots of the problem. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/roots/#x8) - Meet here beneath this ash-tree's roots. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/roots/#x9) ### Note Singular «root», plural «roots». «Take root» = start to grow. Homophone: «route» (a way to travel) is often said «root» in the UK. In maths the square root sign is √; √25 = 5. Not all things underground are roots: a potato is a tuber (a swollen stem). ## In Jewish tradition It means plant roots, and in the Hebrew texts, three-letter word roots that carry the main meaning. **Interpretation.** Students of Hebrew and of Sefer Yetzirah trace meaning back to roots, and mystics speak of the "roots" of things in the divine world. ### Examples - Hebrew has of course several verb roots relating to one or more of each of these three facets of language. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/roots/#x1) - It derives from the root נפ״שׁ NPSh, having to do with breathing, refreshing, and resting; its etymological relationships with curiously similar roots like נשׁ״ם NShM ‘to breathe, pant’, נשׁ״ף NShP ‘to blow’, and נשׁ״ב NShB ‘to blow’ are unclear. (Sefer Yetzirah, Sefaria community translation) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/roots/#x2) - The Third Path is the Sanctifying Intelligence, and is the basis of foundation of Primordial Wisdom, which is called the Former of faith, and its roots, Amen; and it is the parent of Faith, from which virtues doth Faith emanate. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1887) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/roots/#x3) - His roots shall dry up beneath, and above shall his branch wither. (Writings JOB.18.16, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/roots/#x4) - His roots are wrapped about the heap, he beholdeth the place of stones. (Writings JOB.8.17, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/roots/#x5) - They pluck salt-wort with wormwood; and the roots of the broom are their food. (Writings JOB.30.4, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/roots/#x6) ### Note Singular «root», plural «roots». «Take root» = start to grow. Homophone: «route» (a way to travel) is often said «root» in the UK. In maths the square root sign is √; √25 = 5. Not all things underground are roots: a potato is a tuber (a swollen stem). ## On Mova - [Trees and pragmatics of «roots» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/roots/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«roots» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/roots.html) on Mova free. - [Trees and pragmatics of «roots» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/roots/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames. - [«roots» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/roots.html) on Mova free.