The main part of a word without any affixes is called the root. The root word is the core part of a word that carries the primary meaning. It forms the foundation upon which various affixes, such as prefixes and suffixes, can be added to create new words or alter the original meaning.
For example, in the word ‘running’, the root is ‘run’. The suffix ‘ning’ tells us about the action’s continuous nature, but the essential meaning of the word comes from the root ‘run’. Understanding the root of a word can help with grasping its meaning and making connections with related words.