to destroy root and branch

  • 11Root of an equation — 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 …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 12root — root1 rootlike, adj. /rooht, root/, n. 1. a part of the body of a plant that develops, typically, from the radicle and grows downward into the soil, anchoring the plant and absorbing nutriment and moisture. 2. a similar organ developed from some… …

    Universalium

  • 13root — root1 W2S3 [ru:t] n ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(plant)¦ 2¦(cause of a problem)¦ 3¦(origin/main part)¦ 4¦(family connection)¦ 5 put down roots 6¦(tooth/hair etc)¦ 7 take root 8 have a (good) root round 9¦(language)¦ …

    Dictionary of contemporary English

  • 14root — 1 /ru:t/ noun (C) 1 PLANT the part of a plant or tree that grows under the ground and gets water from the soil: Be careful not to damage the roots when repotting. | tree roots 2 CAUSE OF A PROBLEM the main cause of a problem: Money is the root of …

    Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • 15root — 1. n. & v. n. 1 a the part of a plant normally below the ground, attaching it to the earth and conveying nourishment to it from the soil. b (in pl.) such a part divided into branches or fibres. c the corresponding organ of an epiphyte; the part… …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 16root — Synonyms and related words: IC analysis, accidence, acclaim, affix, affixation, allomorph, ancestors, anchor, antecedents, applaud, base, basis, beat the bushes, bed, bed on, bedrock, beginning, birthplace, boost, bottom, bottom on, bound… …

    Moby Thesaurus

  • 17destroy — v. a. 1. Demolish, overturn, overthrow, subvert, raze, ruin, throw down, pull down, break up, sap the foundations of. 2. Annihilate, quench, take away, put an end to, bring to nought. 3. Waste, ravage, desolate, devastate, devour, lay waste, make …

    New dictionary of synonyms

  • 18root — root1 [ro͞ot, root] n. [ME rote < Late OE < ON rot, akin to OE wyrt, Ger wurzel < IE base * wrād , twig, root > Gr rhiza, L radix, root, ramus, branch] 1. the part of a plant, usually below the ground, that lacks nodes, shoots, and… …

    English World dictionary

  • 19Multiple primary root — 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 …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 20Primary root — 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 …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English