Highly reliable hardware, firmware, and software components that perform specific, critical security functions. Because roots of trust are inherently trusted, they must be secure by design. Roots of trust provide a firm foundation from which to build security and trust.
Sources:
NIST SP 800-172
from
NIST Roots of Trust Project
A starting point that is implicitly trusted.
Sources:
NISTIR 8320
under Root of Trust