grass roots

[gras-roots, -roots, grahs-]

grass·roots

[gras-roots, -roots, grahs-]
noun (used with a singular or plural verb) Also, grass roots.
1.
the common or ordinary people, especially as contrasted with the leadership or elite of a political party, social organization, etc.; the rank and file.
2.
the agricultural and rural areas of a country.
3.
the people inhabiting these areas, especially as a political, social, or economic group.
4.
the origin or basis of something; the basic or primary concept, rule, part, or the like.
adjective Also, grass-roots.
5.
of, pertaining to, or involving the common people, especially as contrasted with or separable from an elite: a grassroots movement for nuclear disarmament.

00:10

00:09

00:08

00:07

00:06

00:05

00:04

00:03

00:02

00:01

Grass roots is always a great word to know.
So is bezoar. Does it mean:
a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison.
an extraordinary or unusual thing, person, or event; an exceptional example or instance.

Origin:
1910–15 Americanism for def. 1
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To grass roots
Collins
World English Dictionary
grass roots
 
pl n
1.  a.  the ordinary people as distinct from the active leadership of a party or organization: used esp of the rank-and-file members of a political party, or of the voters themselves
 b.  (as modifier): the newly elected MP expressed a wish for greater contact with people at grass-roots level
2.  the origin or essentials
 
[C20: sense 1 originally US, with reference to rural areas in contrast to the towns]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Dictionary.com, LLC. Copyright © 2012. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature