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rhizome

 - 4 dictionary results

rhi⋅zome

  [rahy-zohm]
Use rhizome in a Sentence
–noun Botany.
a rootlike subterranean stem, commonly horizontal in position, that usually produces roots below and sends up shoots progressively from the upper surface.
Origin:
1835–45; < NL rhizoma < Gk rhízōma root, stem, n. of result from rhizoûn to fix firmly, take root, deriv. of rhíza root 1

Related forms:
rhi⋅zom⋅a⋅tous  [rahy-zom-uh-tuhs, -zoh-muh-] , adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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rhi·zome   (rī'zōm')   


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n.  A horizontal, usually underground stem that often sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Also called rootstalk, rootstock.

[Greek rhizōma, mass of roots, from rhizoun, to cause to take root, from rhiza, root; see wrād- in Indo-European roots.]
rhi·zom'a·tous (-zŏm'ə-təs, -zō'mə-) adj., rhi·zom'ic adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

rhizome 
1845, from Gk. rhizoma "mass of tree roots," from rhizoun "cause to strike root," from rhiza "root," probably from PIE *wrad- "branch, root" (cf. L. radix "root," O.N. rot "root," O.E. wyrt "plant, herb;" see radish).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: rhi·zome
Pronunciation: 'rI-"zOm
Function: noun
: a usually horizontal subterranean plant stem that is distinguished from a true root inpossessing buds, nodes, and usually scalelike leaves
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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