root2

 
Pronunciation: /ruːt/

verb

  • 1 [no object, with adverbial] (of an animal) turn up the ground with its snout in search of food: stray dogs rooting around for bones and scraps
  • search unsystematically through an untidy mass or area; rummage: she was rooting through a pile of papers
  • [with object] (root something out) find or extract something by rummaging: he managed to root out the cleaning kit

noun

[in singular]
  • an act of rooting: I had a root through the open drawers

Phrasal Verbs

root for

informal support or hope for the success of (a person or group entering a contest or undertaking a challenge): the whole of this club is rooting for him

root someone on

North American informal cheer or spur someone on: his mother rooted him on enthusiastically from ringside

Origin:

Old English wrōtan, of Germanic origin; related to Old English wrōt 'snout', German Rüssel 'snout', and perhaps ultimately to Latin rodere 'gnaw'