a main root, growing almost vertically downward, from which small branch roots spread out
Origin of taproot
tap + roottaproot
Webster's New World College Dictionary, Fifth Edition Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Link to this page
Cite this page
MLA Style
"taproot." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/taproot>.
APA Style
taproot. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/taproot
taproot
noun
The main root of a plant, usually stouter than the lateral roots and growing straight downward from the stem.
Origin of taproot
From tap 2THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Link to this page
Cite this page
MLA Style
"taproot." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/taproot>.
APA Style
taproot. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/taproot
The main root in gymnosperms, eudicotyledons, and magnoliids, usually stouter than the lateral roots and growing straight downward from the stem. The taproot develops from the primary root. The taproot and its lateral roots penetrate deeper into the soil than the fibrous roots characteristic of monocotyledons.
Compare fibrous root
Link to this page
Cite this page
MLA Style
"taproot." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/taproot>.
APA Style
taproot. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/taproot
Noun
(plural taproots)
English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.
Link to this page
Cite this page
MLA Style
"taproot." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 14 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/taproot>.
APA Style
taproot. (n.d.). Retrieved January 14th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/taproot
Sentence Examples
- However, if you are not careful, you can tear the taproot, which simply causes regeneration of the weed.
- The root of the plant grows from one main taproot.
WORDS NEAR taproot IN THE DICTIONARY
- taproot
- taproots
- taprostene
- taps