noun

la racine

root

Partie d’une plante qui est sous la terre et qui prend l’eau et la nourriture du sol.

Racine means “root.” It can be used both literally and figuratively:

Botany / everyday sense: the root of a plant or tree, the part usually underground that anchors the plant and absorbs water and nutrients.
- les racines d’un arbre = the roots of a tree
Figurative sense: the origin, source, or underlying cause of something (a tradition, a problem, an identity, etc.).
- à la racine du problème = at the root of the problem
- ses racines = one’s roots (background/origins)
Mathematics: a root of a number or equation (e.g., square root).
- racine carrée = square root
Linguistics / grammar: a word root / stem, the base element from which words are formed.

From Latin radix (“root”).
Common related forms:
- raciner (verb): to take root; to root (something)
- enraciner: to root/anchor (literally or figuratively), to become rooted
- racines (plural): roots; origins

(plant root): radicelle (rootlet, smaller root; more technical)
(origin/source): origine, source, cause, fondement, base
(math): no perfect everyday synonym; often expressed by the same term or the specific type (racine carrée, racine cubique)

(origin vs outcome): conséquence, effet, résultat (opposite idea of cause/origin)
For the literal plant sense, there isn’t a clean direct antonym in common use.