Collocations for root - noun
1. of a plant
ADJ.
deep, shallow | gnarled
ROOT + VERB
develop, grow | put down, take
I hope those cuttings will take root.
I hope those cuttings will take root.
ROOT + NOUN
system | crops, vegetables
PREP.
by its/the ~s
She pulled the shrub out by its roots.
She pulled the shrub out by its roots.
2. roots: place where you feel you belong
ADJ.
humble
Despite his wealth, he never forgot his humble roots.
Despite his wealth, he never forgot his humble roots.
cultural
severed from our cultural roots by industrialization
severed from our cultural roots by industrialization
middle-class, peasant, working-class | French, Scottish, etc.
VERB + ROOT
get/go back to, return to
My husband wants to go back to his Irish roots.
My husband wants to go back to his Irish roots.
trace
They can trace their roots back to the sixteenth century.
They can trace their roots back to the sixteenth century.
put down
We haven''t been here long enough to put down roots.
We haven''t been here long enough to put down roots.
cut yourself off from
3. cause/source
ADJ.
deep | very | common
The two languages share a common root.
The two languages share a common root.
historical
VERB + ROOT
have | get at/to, go to
I''ve spent months trying to get to the root of the problem.
I''ve spent months trying to get to the root of the problem.
lie at
ROOT + NOUN
cause
PREP.
at (the ~ of)
It is a moral question at root. | His fears of loneliness lay at the very root of his inability to leave.
It is a moral question at root. | His fears of loneliness lay at the very root of his inability to leave.
~ in
The unrest has roots in religious differences.
The unrest has roots in religious differences.
PHRASES
the root of all evil
They consider globalization to be the root of all evil.
They consider globalization to be the root of all evil.
the root of the matter/problem
I expect money is at the root of the matter.
I expect money is at the root of the matter.