rooting

B2 · Upper Intermediate Informal

v. searching for something by moving things around with your hands.

v. searching for an object by rummaging or moving items aside. Usually followed by 'around' or 'through'.

“She was rooting around in her bag looking for her car keys.”

“He spent the entire morning rooting through old boxes in the attic, hoping to find the original deed to the house.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Science

v. the process of a plant starting to grow roots in the soil.

v. the biological process of a plant or cutting developing a root system in a growth medium.

“The gardener checked to see if the rose cuttings were rooting in the pots.”

“Successful propagation depends on the cuttings rooting quickly before the stems begin to rot in the humid environment.”

C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Medicine Technical

n. a natural movement a baby makes to find milk when their cheek is touched.

n. an involuntary reflex in newborn mammals that assists in finding the mother's nipple for feeding.

“The nurse noticed the baby's rooting reflex whenever her cheek touched the blanket.”

“The rooting reflex is a critical survival mechanism in infants, ensuring they can locate a food source immediately after birth.”