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“Root” or “Route”

root / route are similar-sounding terms with different meanings (referred to as homophones). To better understand the differences, see below for definitions, pronunciation guides, and example sentences using each term.

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Definitions

What each term means

Same sound, different spellings and meanings, shown with a pronunciation guide for each term.

root r·UW·t

  • noun(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.
  • noun(linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed.
  • nouna number that, when multiplied by itself some number of times, equals a given number.
  • nounthe part of a tooth that is embedded in the jaw and serves as support.
  • verbtake root and begin to grow.
  • verbcome into existence, originate.
  • verbplant by the roots.
  • verbcause to take roots.

route r·UW·t

  • verbsend documents or materials to appropriate destinations.
  • verbsend via a specific route.
  • verbdivert in a specified direction.
Usage

Examples in context

Real sentences for each spelling. Hover an example to copy it.

“root”

  • …(山葵, わさび): paste of wasabi root
  • …sexual abuse were at the root of the psychoneuroses in letters…
  • However, the root cause of papilledema is the…
  • The root systems of plants, in most…
  • Kava root, from the South Pacific, commonly…
  • …who are themselves at the root of the problems of the
  • The reconstructed Proto-Celtic language root nemos means "sky" or "heaven".
  • …this was "the deepest unconscious root of anti-Semitism".
  • …be taken up by the root and sequestered in the vacuoles…
  • It was the root of the manufacturing companies of…

“route”

  • …once entirely electrified along its route.
  • …between Piñalito Norte and Provincial Route 19 is under construction.
  • …road is co-signed with Kentucky Route 841 (KY 841).
  • …Department (DAC) confirms the airplane’s route.
  • …freeway is concurrent with Kentucky Route 841.
  • The Kidwelly route was used for coal trains,…
  • Kentucky Route 841 (KY 841) is a…
  • Virginia State Route 239 (1942)
  • The route is a partial beltway, encircling…
  • In 1958, the first Route de Chill Mhantáin was held,…

Examples are Wikipedia snippets under the CC ShareAlike 3.0 license. Definitions are drawn from WordNet.

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