root out

English

Etymology

From the notion of eradication: ripping something out by the roots.

Verb

root out (third-person singular simple present roots out, present participle rooting out, simple past and past participle rooted out)

  1. (transitive) To remove or abolish completely.
    Synonyms: root up, uproot, eradicate, deracinate, extirpate
    They rooted out all vestiges of corruption.
    They rooted out all the burdock from their paddocks.
  2. (transitive) To search for and discover.
    Coordinate terms: sort out, figure out, straighten out
    Near-synonym: suss out
    It took them hours to root out exactly where the water was coming in.

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