Definition

The mass of roots and soil that comes out when a plant is removed from the ground or a pot.

Example

When we transplanted the tree, we made sure to keep the rootball intact.

Conversation

I just repotted my plant, and the rootball was huge!

That's awesome! Did you have any trouble getting it out?

A little, but it was worth it to see how healthy the rootball looked.

Yeah, a good rootball means it's well established!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Rootball → The word is formed from "root" (from Old English "wēod", meaning the part of a plant that attaches it to the ground) and "ball" (from Old French "balle", meaning a spherical object). A rootball refers to the mass of roots and soil that is often removed from the ground when transplanting a plant.

Memory Tip

Think of the 'roots' of a plant being gathered into a 'ball' shape when it is moved — that's what a rootball is.

Visually Confused Words