What is a root word?

A root word is the basic, core part of a word that carries its fundamental meaning. It's often a single syllable, though sometimes it can be two or more syllables.

Here's what you need to know about root words:

* Foundation of Meaning: The root word is the foundation upon which the entire word's meaning is built.

* Can Stand Alone: Many root words can stand alone as complete words, like "play," "write," or "read."

* Combined with Affixes: Root words are often combined with prefixes (added at the beginning) and suffixes (added at the end) to create new words.

* Different Languages: Root words can come from various languages, often Latin and Greek.

Examples:

* "Bio": This root word means "life" and appears in words like "biology," "biosphere," and "biodegradable."

* "Graph": This root word means "write" or "record" and is found in words like "autograph," "biography," and "graphic."

* "Dict": This root word means "speak" or "say" and appears in words like "dictate," "predict," and "contradict."

Understanding root words is helpful because:

* It helps you learn the meaning of new words.

* It can make it easier to remember words.

* It helps you understand how words are related to each other.

Let me know if you'd like more examples or want to explore the roots of a specific word!