Word Frequency
radical (ˈrædɪkəl
)
Definitions
adjective
- of, relating to, or characteristic of the basic or inherent constitution of a person
or thing; fundamental ⇒
a radical fault
- concerned with or tending to concentrate on fundamental aspects of a matter; searching
or thoroughgoing ⇒
radical thought
,a radical re-examination
- favouring or tending to produce extreme or fundamental changes in political, economic,
or social conditions, institutions, habits of mind, etc ⇒
a radical party
- (medicine) (of treatment) aimed at removing the source of a disease ⇒
radical surgery
- (slang (mainly US) very good; excellent
- of, relating to, or arising from the root or the base of the stem of a plant ⇒
radical leaves
- (mathematics) of, relating to, or containing roots of numbers or quantities
- (linguistics) of or relating to the root of a word
noun
- a person who favours extreme or fundamental change in existing institutions or in political, social, or economic conditions
- (mathematics) a root of a number or quantity, such as ³√5, √x
- Also: radicle (chemistry)
- short for free radical
- another name for group (sense 10)
- (linguistics) another word for root1 (sense 9)
- (in logographic writing systems such as that used for Chinese) a part of a character conveying lexical meaning
Derived Forms
ˈradicalness nounWord Origin
C14: from Late Latin rādīcālis having roots, from Latin rādix a rootSynonyms
View thesaurus entry = extreme, complete, entire, sweeping, violent, severe, extensive, wide-ranging, excessive, thorough, drastic, rigorous, far-reaching, draconian
= revolutionary, reforming, extreme, militant, progressive, left-wing, extremist, reformist, fanatical
= fundamental, natural, basic, essential, native, constitutional, organic, profound, innate, deep-seated, thoroughgoing, hard-wired,
Quotations including 'radical'
"A radical is a man with both feet firmly planted in the air"
Translations for 'radical'
- British English: radical Radical changes and differences are very important and great in degree. ADJECTIVEThe country needs a period of calm without more surges of radical change.
- Brazilian Portuguese: radical
- Chinese: 重大的
- European Spanish: radical
- French: radical radicale
- German: radikal
- Italian: radicale
- Japanese: 根本的な
- Korean: 극단적인
- Portuguese: radical
- Spanish: radical
Example Sentences Including 'radical'
'We really believed we were up for four years of radical government.Glasgow Herald (2001)
And he's more radical than most of the members of the Military Council.The Devil's Door
During the same era the New Towns Act authorised a radical solution to the problems of population growth.Glasgow Herald (2001)
It's not about promoting homosexuality, attacking celibacy, supporting radical feminism or advocating a married priesthood.Irish Times (2002)
Labour has already produced the most radical reform proposals to ensure value for money in our health system.Irish Times (2002)
Or rather, its radical expansion was the final cause among many historical causes dividing the Order in two.The Broken God
The flight proves its radical , air-breathing engine can function at speeds of nearly 12,000 kilometres per hour.New Scientist (2004)
There are economic reasons, of course, why therapists might not want to take such a radical step.PLACEBO: The Belief Effect (2003)
This was a major breakthrough, but in the following months there was a radical restructuring of Brazil's environmental agencies.SPIX'S MACAW: The Race to Save the World's Rarest Bird (2002)
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