Definition of Radical

1. Noun. (chemistry) two or more atoms bound together as a single unit and forming part of a molecule.


2. Adjective. (used of opinions and actions) far beyond the norm. "An ultra conservative"
Exact synonyms: Extremist, Ultra
Similar to: Immoderate

3. Noun. An atom or group of atoms with at least one unpaired electron; in the body it is usually an oxygen molecule that has lost an electron and will stabilize itself by stealing an electron from a nearby molecule. "In the body free radicals are high-energy particles that ricochet wildly and damage cells"
Exact synonyms: Free Radical
Generic synonyms: Atom

4. Adjective. Markedly new or introducing radical change. "Radical political views"
Exact synonyms: Revolutionary
Similar to: New
Derivative terms: Revolution

5. Noun. A person who has radical ideas or opinions.

6. Adjective. Arising from or going to the root or source. "A radical flaw in the plan"
Similar to: Basic

7. Noun. (mathematics) a quantity expressed as the root of another quantity.
Generic synonyms: Amount, Measure, Quantity
Category relationships: Math, Mathematics, Maths

8. Adjective. Of or relating to or constituting a linguistic root. "A radical verb form"
Category relationships: Linguistics
Partainyms: Root

9. Noun. A character conveying the lexical meaning of a logogram.
Generic synonyms: Character, Grapheme, Graphic Symbol
Group relationships: Ideogram, Ideograph

10. Adjective. Especially of leaves; located at the base of a plant or stem; especially arising directly from the root or rootstock or a root-like stem. "Radical leaves"
Exact synonyms: Basal
Category relationships: Botany, Phytology
Derivative terms: Base
Antonyms: Cauline

11. Noun. (linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed. "Thematic vowels are part of the stem"
Exact synonyms: Base, Root, Root Word, Stem, Theme
Category relationships: Linguistics
Generic synonyms: Descriptor, Form, Signifier, Word Form
Derivative terms: Stem, Stem

Definition of Radical

1. a. Of or pertaining to the root; proceeding directly from the root.

2. n. A primitive word; a radix, root, or simple, underived, uncompounded word; an etymon.

Definition of Radical

1. Adjective. Favouring fundamental change, or change at the root cause of a matter. ¹

2. Adjective. (context: botany not comparable) Of or pertaining to a root (qualifier of a plant). ¹

3. Adjective. Of or pertaining to the intrinsic nature of something. ¹

4. Adjective. Thoroughgoing. ¹

5. Adjective. (context: linguistics not comparable) Of or pertaining to the root of a word. ¹

6. Adjective. (context: chemistry not comparable) Involving free radicals ¹

7. Adjective. (slang) Excellent. ¹

8. Noun. (context: historical: 19th-century England) A member of the most progressive wing of the Liberal Party; someone favouring social reform (but generally stopping short of socialism). ¹

9. Noun. (context: historical: early 20th-century France) A member of an influential, centrist political party favouring moderate social reform, a republican constitution, and secular politics. ¹

10. Noun. A person with radical opinions. ¹

11. Noun. (context: arithmetic) A root (of a number or quantity). ¹

12. Noun. (context: linguistics) In logographic writing systems as the Chinese writing system, the portion of a character (if any) that provides an indication of its meaning, as opposed to '''phonetic'''. ¹

13. Noun. (context: linguistics) In Semitic languages, any one of the set of consonants (typically three) that make up a root. ¹

14. Noun. (context: chemistry) A group of atoms, joined by covalent bonds, that take part in reactions as a single unit. ¹

15. Noun. (context: organic chemistry) A free radical. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Radical

1. a group of atoms that acts as a unit in chemical compounds [n -S]

Medical Definition of Radical

1. 1. An atom or or electrically neutral group that has one or more unpaired electrons. 2. Of leaves, clustered at the base of the stem. (09 Oct 1997)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Radical

radiationlike
radiationproof
radiations
radiative
radiative balance
radiative forcing
radiative recombination
radiative transfer
radiatively
radiator
radiator cap
radiator grille
radiator hose
radiatorless
radiators
radical (current term)
radical anion
radical axes
radical axis
radical cation
radical cell
radical center
radical chic
radical cystectomy
radical ion
radical line
radical lines
radical mastectomy
radical mastoidectomy

Literary usage of Radical

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Journal of the American Chemical Society by American Chemical Society (1879)
"Gerlock.9b On reduction with К we get the dianion radical RH-2~, while with Na a radical is formed whose esr spectrum is essentially identical with the ..."

2. The Monist by Hegeler Institute (1913)
"The philosophy of "radical empiricism" is outlined in twelve essays collected by Ralph Barton Perry, Professor James's literary executor, in the posthumous ..."

3. The Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture: A Discussion for the Amateur, and by Liberty Hyde Bailey (1917)
"Biennial, 3-9 ft. high, densely white-floccose-tomentose: Ivs. entire or obso- letely crenate; radical Ivs. oblong or elliptic, attenuate to a short petiole ..."

4. Works by Manuel Márquez Sterling, William Makepeace Thackeray, Leslie Stephen, Louise Stanage (1898)
"ON radical SNOBS. AS the principles of Punch are emi- **• nently Conservative, it might be thought that anything we could say about radical Snobs would bear ..."

5. Science by American Association for the Advancement of Science (1904)
"The equation of the radical axis of two circles, .« and //, of the system is у- (Г* f G' _F HF and Я being of the fourth degree in n and ..."

6. Psychological Review by American Psychological Association (1879)
"DISCUSSION INDUCTION AND radical "PSYCHOLOGY" Several interesting and thought-provoking papers1 have recently appeared in this REVIEW, in THE YALE REVIEW ..."

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