Definition of Radical. Meaning of Radical. Synonyms of Radical
Here you will find one or more explanations in English for the word Radical.
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Definition of Radical
Radical Radical Rad"i*cal, a. [F., fr. L. radicalis having roots, fr.
radix, -icis, a root. See Radix.]
1. Of or pertaining to the root; proceeding directly from the
root.
2. Hence: Of or pertaining to the root or origin; reaching to
the center, to the foundation to the ultimate sources to
the principles, or the like: original; fundamental;
thorough-going; unsparing; extreme; as, radical evils;
radical reform; a radical party.
The most determined exertions of that authority,
against them, only showed their radical
independence. --Burke.
3. (Bot.)
(a) Belonging to, or proceeding from, the root of a plant;
as, radical tubers or hairs.
(b) Proceeding from a rootlike stem, or one which does not
rise above the ground; as, the radical leaves of the
dandelion and the sidesaddle flower.
4. (Philol.) Relating, or belonging, to the root, or ultimate
source of derivation; as, a radical verbal form.
5. (Math.) Of or pertaining to a radix or root; as, a radical
quantity; a radical sign. See below.
Radical axis of two circles. (Geom.) See under Axis.
Radical pitch, the pitch or tone with which the utterance
of a syllable begins. --Rush.
Radical quantity (Alg.), a quantity to which the radical
sign is prefixed; specifically, a quantity which is not a
perfect power of the degree indicated by the radical sign;
a surd.
Radical sign (Math.), the sign [root] (originally the
letter r, the initial of radix, root), placed before any
quantity, denoting that its root is to be extracted; thus,
[root]a, or [root](a + b). To indicate any other than the
square root, a corresponding figure is placed over the
sign; thus [cuberoot]a, indicates the third or cube root
of a.
Radical stress (Elocution), force of utterance falling on
the initial part of a syllable or sound.
Radical vessels (Anat.), minute vessels which originate in
the substance of the tissues.
Syn: Primitive; original; natural; underived; fundamental;
entire.
Usage: Radical, Entire. These words are frequently
employed as interchangeable in describing some marked
alternation in the condition of things. There is,
however, an obvious difference between them. A radical
cure, reform, etc., is one which goes to the root of
the thing in question; and it is entire, in the sense
that, by affecting the root, it affects in a
appropriate degree the entire body nourished by the
root; but it may not be entire in the sense of making
a change complete in its nature, as well as in its
extent. Hence, we speak of a radical change; a radical
improvement; radical differences of opinion; while an
entire change, an entire improvement, an entire
difference of opinion, might indicate more than was
actually intended. A certain change may be both
radical and entire, in every sense.
Radical Radical Rad"i*cal, n.
1. (Philol.)
(a) A primitive word; a radix, root, or simple, underived,
uncompounded word; an etymon.
(b) A primitive letter; a letter that belongs to the
radix.
The words we at present make use of, and
understand only by common agreement, assume a
new air and life in the understanding, when you
trace them to their radicals, where you find
every word strongly stamped with nature; full of
energy, meaning, character, painting, and
poetry. --Cleland.
2. (Politics) One who advocates radical changes in government
or social institutions, especially such changes as are
intended to level class inequalities; -- opposed to
conservative.
In politics they [the Independents] were, to use
phrase of their own time. ``Root-and-Branch men,'
or, to use the kindred phrase of our own, Radicals.
--Macaulay.
3. (Chem.)
(a) A characteristic, essential, and fundamental
constituent of any compound; hence, sometimes, an
atom.
As a general rule, the metallic atoms are basic
radicals, while the nonmetallic atoms are acid
radicals. --J. P. Cooke.
(b) Specifically, a group of two or more atoms, not
completely saturated, which are so linked that their
union implies certain properties, and are conveniently
regarded as playing the part of a single atom; a
residue; -- called also a compound radical. Cf.
Residue.
4. (Alg.) A radical quantity. See under Radical, a.
An indicated root of a perfect power of the degree
indicated is not a radical but a rational quantity
under a radical form. --Davies &
Peck (Math.
Dict.)
5. (Anat.) A radical vessel. See under Radical, a.
