root hair

noun

: a filamentous extension of an epidermal cell near the tip of a rootlet that functions in absorption of water and minerals see seedling illustration

Examples of root hair in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Planting in Autumn Planting in autumn allows the peony to grow fine root hairs and be ready for spring growth without relying on energy stored in the root to survive. — Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2024 Beyond that, an almost 2 1/2-pound carrot with long, scraggly root hairs sat across from a slightly heftier tomato with clusters of small, wart-like appendages. — Emily Mesner, Anchorage Daily News, 3 Sep. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of root hair was in 1841

Rhymes for root hair

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Browse Nearby Words

root graft
root hair
root-hardy
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Cite this Entry

“Root hair.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/root%20hair. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

root hair

noun
: one of the threadlike outgrowths near the tip of a rootlet that function in absorption of water and minerals

More from Merriam-Webster on root hair

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about root hair

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