Radical Definition
rădĭ-kəl
radicals
adjective
Of or from the root or roots; going to the foundation or source of something; fundamental; basic.
A radical principle.
Webster's New World
Departing markedly from the usual or customary; extreme or drastic.
A radical change in diet.
American Heritage Medicine
Extreme; thorough.
A radical change in one's life.
Webster's New World
Favoring fundamental or extreme change; specif., favoring basic change in the social or economic structure.
Webster's New World
Relating to or being surgery that is extreme or drastic in an effort to eradicate all existing or potential disease.
Radical hysterectomy.
American Heritage Medicine
Synonyms:
noun
radicals
A basic or root part of something.
Webster's New World
A fundamental.
Webster's New World
A person holding radical views, esp. one favoring fundamental social or economic change.
Webster's New World
A member or adherent of a Radical party.
Webster's New World
The indicated root of a quantity or quantities, shown by an expression written under the radical sign.
Webster's New World
Synonyms:
Other Word Forms of Radical
Noun
Singular:
radicalPlural:
radicalsOrigin of Radical
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Middle English of a root from Late Latin rādīcālis having roots from Latin rādīx rādīc- root wrād- in Indo-European roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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From French radical, from Late Latin radicalis (“of or pertaining to the root, having roots, radical"), from Latin radix (“root"); see radix.
From Wiktionary
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