akar

Akar is a term that appears in several languages and can function as a common noun or as a proper name. In Indonesian and Malay, akar means "root" and is used to refer to the underground part of a plant as well as to the origin or basis of something. The word also occurs as a surname or given name in some cultures, and may appear in place names or as part of compound terms.

In botany and plant biology, akar denotes the root system, which anchors a plant and absorbs water and nutrients from the soil. Roots may be primary or secondary, fibrous or taproot, and some plants deploy specialized roots such as aerial roots for support or storage roots for reserves. Roots interact with soil through zones of growth and through symbiotic relationships with fungi and bacteria.

Metaphorically, akar is used to signify origin, source, or cause. Phrases such as "root of the problem" reflect this usage, and in many languages the same concept appears in idioms and proverbs. Etymologically, the sense derives from the concrete plant root but is extended to explain or justify other phenomena.

Aside from language use, Akar can function as a surname in Turkish and other communities, and it may appear in geographic names or as a personal name. The term's meaning and usage thus vary by language and cultural context.