root

S2 W2

BrE /ruːt/ AmE /ruːt/

noun, verb en → es

past rooted pp rooted ing rooting

1 PLANT PART [countable] A1

the part of a plant that grows under the ground and takes in water and food from the soil

raíz, radicación

  • a root of something

Collocations root system · taproot

  • The roots of the tree are very deep.

    Las raíces del árbol son muy profundas.

2 ORIGIN [countable] B1

the origin or cause of something

origen, causa

  • root of something

Collocations root problem · root cause

  • The root of the problem is lack of communication.

    La raíz del problema es la falta de comunicación.

3 MATH [countable] B2

a number that, when multiplied by itself a certain number of times, gives you another number

raíz cuadrada, raíz cúbica

  • the root of something

Collocations square root · cube root

  • The square root of 16 is 4.

    La raíz cuadrada de 16 es 4.

4 REMOVE [transitive] B1

to remove something, especially by pulling it out of the ground or from where it is fixed

arrancar, sacar

  • take root out of/from

Collocations root a plant · root weeds

  • He rooted the weed from the ground.

    Él arrancó la maleza del suelo.

5 SEARCH [intransitive] B1

to search for something carefully, especially in a place where it is difficult to find

buscar con ahínco, rastrear

  • root around/in

Collocations root through a drawer · root for something

  • She rooted in her bag for the keys.

    Ella buscó en su bolso las llaves.

6 ESTABLISH [intransitive] B2

to establish yourself or your business firmly in a place or situation

asentarse, establecerse

  • root somewhere

Collocations root yourself in a community · root your business in the market

  • They have rooted themselves firmly in the local community.

    Se han asentado firmemente en la comunidad local.

7 PLANT [transitive] B1

to plant something so that it grows and develops from a root or roots

plantar, sembrar

  • root something somewhere

Collocations root plants in soil · root a tree

  • They rooted the young trees in the garden.

    Plantaron los árboles jóvenes en el jardín.

8 FIX [transitive] B1

to fix something firmly so that it cannot be moved easily

fijar, anclar

  • root something somewhere

Collocations root a tent in the ground · root furniture to the floor

  • They rooted the tent firmly into the ground.

    Fijaron la tienda de campaña firmemente en el suelo.

Phrasal verbs

root for SUPPORT B1

apoyar, animar a

  • I'm rooting for the home team.

    Estoy apoyando al equipo local.

root out REMOVE B2

eliminar, erradicar

  • They are trying to root out corruption.

    Están tratando de eliminar la corrupción.

root around/in SEARCH B1

buscar en, revolver

  • He rooted around in his bag for the keys.

    Él revolvió su bolso buscando las llaves.

root up REMOVE B2

arrancar, sacar de raíz

  • The storm rooted up several trees.

    La tormenta arrancó varios árboles.

root out of/from REMOVE B2

arrancar de, sacar de raíz

  • He rooted the weed out of the garden.

    Él arrancó la maleza del jardín.

Idioms

root and branch C1

de raíz, completamente

  • The government plans to reform the system root and branch.

    El gobierno planea reformar el sistema de raíz.

rooted in something B2

asentado en algo, basado en algo

  • Her beliefs are rooted in her childhood experiences.

    Sus creencias están asentadas en sus experiencias de la infancia.

rooted to the spot B2

clavado al suelo, paralizado

  • She was rooted to the spot with fear.

    Ella estaba clavada al suelo de miedo.