Question

What is the main difference between a "root word" and a "root"?

Answer 1

A root word is a word that serves as the base of a new word, such as "love" in "lovely". The main consideration is that a root word can stand alone as its own word.

A root also generally is associated with a meaning, such as "ambi" in ambidextrous. Ambi is a root that means "many", but it cannot stand alone as its own word. 

Answer 2

A word usually has three parts to it, they are a root, a prefix and a suffix. So when it comes to the idea of base words and root words, the truth is that the terms "base" and "root" are one in the same.