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Glite Dictionary
rootbound

rootbound

8.4
A plant with underground parts tightly tangled and crowding its pot because it grows too big for it
  • adjective
  • /ˈruːtˌbaʊnd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : atrapado en sus raíces
  • Is this plant rootbound?

Examples

  • The fern became rootbound and had to be moved to a larger pot.

  • If your plant looks unhealthy and is rootbound, consider repotting it soon.

  • Gardeners often check if a plant is rootbound before transplanting.

  • The rootbound plant struggled to grow in its small pot.

  • If a plant becomes rootbound, it may struggle to take in water and nutrients.

  • Many gardeners check for signs of being rootbound before transplanting their plants.

  • When a plant is rootbound, its roots are tangled and unable to grow further in the container.

Synonyms

potbound
vsrootbound
  • Specialized
8.9

A plant that grows too big for its pot so its roots become tangled

is used for any plant whose roots are densely matted after outgrowing a container

Antonyms

to free
337 1.0

To release someone or something that is held

How Rooty

rootbound
  • Specialized
8.4
rootsy
7.9
rooted
3 3.7

Surface Forms

rootbound positive

Morphology

rootbound = root + bound (transparent) = root + bound

A straightforward compound of 'root' + 'bound' describing plants whose roots are tightly constrained, so learners can infer meaning from the parts.

Etymology

Rootbound is made of root and bound, and bound here means 'tied' or 'held'. Imagine a plant whose roots are all 'tied' together and packed into a too-small pot — that picture shows why a rootbound plant has tangled roots and needs a larger container.