root cap

6.8

A small group of cells at the tip of a plant root that protects it as it grows through soil

noun
/ruːt kæp/

Specialized

: cúpula radical

The root cap protects the delicate cells at the tip of the root as it pushes through the soil.

Examples

Scientists studied how the root cap responds to different soil conditions.
A damaged root cap can make the root more vulnerable to injury and disease.
The root cap protects the plant's growing roots.
Each root cap plays a vital role in root development.
The root cap protects the delicate cells at the tip of the root as it pushes through the soil.
Scientists studied how the root cap responds to different soil conditions.
A damaged root cap can make the root more vulnerable to injury and disease.

Surface Forms

root cap singular

root caps plural

Morphology

root + cap

The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'root' (the plant organ) with 'cap' (a cover or protective top): it denotes a covering structure on the tip of a root. This is a literal, compositional technical term following normal noun+noun compounding, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents can infer the meaning.

Etymology

Root cap is a small part that sits like a little cap on the tip of a plant root. It acts like a tiny cover that 'protects' the fragile growing tip as the root pushes through soil, so the name shows its meaning.