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radical definition

radi·cal (rad′i kəl)

adjective

    1. of or from the root or roots; going to the foundation or source of something; fundamental; basic a radical principle
    2. extreme; thorough a radical change in one's life
    1. favoring fundamental or extreme change; specif., favoring basic change in the social or economic structure
    2. designating or of any of various modern political parties, esp. in Europe, ranging from moderate to conservative in program
  3. Bot. of or coming from the root
  4. Math. having to do with the root or roots of a number or quantity

Etymology: ME < LL radicalis < L radix (gen. radicis), root

noun

    1. a basic or root part of something
    2. a fundamental
    1. a person holding radical views, esp. one favoring fundamental social or economic change
    2. a member or adherent of a Radical party
  3. Chem. a group of two or more atoms that acts as a single atom and goes through a reaction unchanged, or is replaced by a single atom: it is normally incapable of separate existence
  4. Math.
    1. the indicated root of a quantity or quantities, shown by an expression written under the radical sign
    2. radical sign

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Alternate definitions:

medical radical definition - medical

radical Synonyms

radical

modif.

  1. Fundamental

    basic, original, primitive, underlying; see fundamental 1, organic.

  2. Advocating extreme change

    extremist, revolutionary, fanatical, militant, rabid, insurgent, iconoclastic, advanced, forward, insurrectionary, progressive, revisionist, abolitionist, leftist, communistic, left-wing, uncompromising, intransigent, recalcitrant, mutinous, rebellious, recusant, subversive, seditious, riotous, lawless, ultraconservative, racist, white supremacist, insubordinate, anarchistic, nihilistic, Bolshevistic, Communist, socialist, liberal, immoderate, heretical, freethinking, avant-garde, Jacobinic, ultraist, ultraistic, ultra, red*, pink*; see also fanatical, rebellious 2, revolutionary 1.

    Antonyms conservative*, reformist, gradualist.

  3. Thoroughgoing

    extreme, drastic, thorough, complete; see comprehensive, extreme 2. See syn. study at liberal.


radical

n.

extremist, militant, revolutionary, fanatic, insurgent, objector, revolutionist, insurrectionist, leftist, anarchist, socialist, communist, pacifist, syndicalist, nihilist, ultraist, ultra, subversive, rebel, revolter, mutineer, firebrand, Jacobin, sans-culotte, Bolshevik, Bolshevist, anarcho-syndicalist, renegade, crusader, individualist, fascist, Nazi, racist, white supremacist, misfit, iconoclast, member of the lunatic fringe, eccentric, freethinker, rightist, yippie, hippie, Black nationalist, demonstrator, peace marcher, rioter, fifth columnist, nonconformist, left-winger, right-winger, ultraconservative, John Bircher, pinko*, red*; see also agitator, rebel 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

radical Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • scavenge: Smoking Ginkgo's ability to scavenge free radicals means that it will make a substantial difference to the potential damage smoking may present.

Adjective modifier

  • free: Indeed, free radicals have an impact on all of our lives.

Noun used with modifier

  • hydroxyl: Produced by smoldering fires, carbon monoxide reduces concentrations of reactive atmospheric chemicals called hydroxyl radicals that remove methane from the air.
radical usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

radical quotes

   I never dared be radical when young For fear it would make me conservative when old.

-Frost, Robert Lee

The charge that an idea is radical, impractical, or long- haired is met by showing that a prominent businessman has favored it†an additional tactic in this strategy of defense†is to assert that Winston Churchill once sponsored the particular idea. If one is challenged, a sufficiently careful investigation will show that he did.

-Galbraith,John Kenneth

A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who hasnever learned towalk forwards. A reactionary is a somnambulist walking backwards. A radical is a man with both feet planted firmly in the air.

-Roosevelt, Franklin D(elano)

radical quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"radical." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 3 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/radical>

APA Style

radical. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 3rd, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/radical

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