radicle

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the embryonic root of a seedling, which is the first part to grow downward from a germinating seed

   The radicle emerged first and anchored the seedling in the soil.

2. 2
   noun

   a small rootlike structure or rootlet

   Each fine radicle absorbed water from the surrounding soil.

Borrowed from Latin radicula ("little root"), the diminutive of radix ("root"). In botany it became the name of the embryonic root that emerges from a seed during germination.

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