root and branch
1Root and branch — Root Root, n. [Icel. r[=o]t (for vr[=o]t); akin to E. wort, and perhaps to root to turn up the earth. See {Wort}.] 1. (Bot.) (a) The underground portion of a plant, whether a true root or a tuber, a bulb or rootstock, as in the potato, the onion …
2Root and branch — Branch Branch, n.; pl. {Branches}. [OE. braunche, F. branche, fr. LL. branca claw of a bird or beast of prey; cf. Armor. brank branch, bough.] 1. (Bot.) A shoot or secondary stem growing from the main stem, or from a principal limb or bough of a… …
3root-and-branch — root and branchˈ adjective and adverb 1. Without leaving any part 2. Thorough(ly), complete(ly) • • • Main Entry: ↑root …
4root and branch — ► root and branch (of a process or operation) thorough or radical. Main Entry: ↑root …
5root and branch — 1 the firm should be eradicated, root and branch: COMPLETELY, entirely, wholly, totally, thoroughly. 2 a root and branch reform: COMPLETE, total, thorough, radical. → …
6Root and Branch — The Root and Branch Petition was a petition presented to the Long Parliament on December 11, 1640. The petition had been signed by 15,000 Londoners and was presented to the English Parliament by a crowd of 1,500. The petition called on Parliament …
7root-and-branch — formal root and branch if something is changed or removed root and branch, it is changed or removed completely because it is bad. These proposals amount to a root and branch reform of the system. (always before noun) …
8root and branch — If an action is performed thoroughly or completely, it is done root and branch . The causes of the disease must be eliminated root and branch …
9root and branch — formal if something is changed or removed root and branch, it is changed or removed completely because it is bad. Racism must be eliminated, root and branch …
10root and branch — 1) the company s accounting department should be eradicated, root and branch Syn: completely, entirely, wholly, totally, thoroughly 2) a root and branch reform Syn: complete, total, thorough, radical …