root
     n 1: (botany) the usually underground organ that lacks buds or
          leaves or nodes; absorbs water and mineral salts;
          usually it anchors the plant to the ground
     2: (linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are
        removed; "thematic vowels are part of the stem" [syn: {root
        word}, {base}, {stem}, {theme}, {radical}]
     3: the place where something begins, where it springs into
        being; "the Italian beginning of the Renaissance";
        "Jupiter was the origin of the radiation"; "Pittsburgh is
        the source of the Ohio River"; "communism's Russian root"
        [syn: {beginning}, {origin}, {rootage}, {source}]
     4: a number that when multiplied by itself some number of times
        equals a given number
     5: the set of values that give a true statement when
        substituted into an equation [syn: {solution}]
     6: someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote
        than a grandparent) [syn: {ancestor}, {ascendant}, {ascendent},
         {antecedent}] [ant: {descendant}]
     7: a simple form inferred as the common basis from which
        related words in several languages can be derived by
        linguistic processes [syn: {etymon}]
     8: the part of a tooth that is embedded in the jaw and serves
        as support [syn: {tooth root}]
     v 1: take root and begin to grow; "this plant roots quickly"
     2: come into existence, originate; "The problem roots in her
        depression"
     3: plant by the roots
     4: dig with the snout; "the pig was rooting for truffles" [syn:
         {rout}, {rootle}]
     5: take sides with; align oneself with; show strong sympathy
        for; "We all rooted for the home team"; "I'm pulling for
        the underdog"; "Are you siding with the defender of the
        title?" [syn: {side}, {pull}]
     6: become settled or established and stable in one's residence
        or life style; "He finally settled down" [syn: {settle}, {take
        root}, {steady down}, {settle down}]
     7: cause to take roots
Source: WordNet® 2.0

root n. [Unix] 1. The {superuser} account (with user name `root') that
   ignores permission bits, user number 0 on a Unix system. The term
   {avatar} is also used. 2. The top node of the system directory
   structure; historically the home directory of the root user, but
   probably named after the root of an (inverted) tree. 3. By extension,
   the privileged system-maintenance login on any OS. See {root mode}, {go
   root}, see also {wheel}.


Source: The Jargon File