racine

Racine is a French noun meaning the part of a plant that anchors the stem and absorbs water and nutrients; it can also refer to the origin or source of something. The term is used across biology, linguistics, mathematics, computing, and as a surname. The word comes from Latin radix, meaning root.

In botany, a root serves as the organ for absorption, storage, and anchorage. Plant roots vary in form, including taproots and fibrous systems, and they often develop root hairs to increase surface area for uptake. Roots may also play roles in interaction with soil microbiota and in environmental adaptation.

In mathematics and related fields, racine denotes a solution of an equation or a root of a function. The square root is called racine carrée, while higher-order roots are racine n-ième. In algebra, finding roots amounts to identifying the values that satisfy a polynomial equation. In computing, the term racine is used in the phrase répertoire racine to describe the root directory of a file system.

In linguistics, a root (racine) is the base form of a word from which other words are derived, often carrying the core semantic content. The concept is central to morphological analysis and etymology, where derivatives build upon a common origin.

Notable people with the surname Racine include Jean Racine (1639–1699), a French tragedian of the classical era, renowned for plays such as Phèdre, Andromaque, and Athalie. The name also appears in geographic and institutional toponyms, including Racine, a city in Wisconsin, United States.