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| rad·i·cal [ ráddik'l ] |
adjective |
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| Definition: |
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1. basic: relating to or affecting the basic nature or most important features of something
  a radical difference between the two
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2. pervasive: far-reaching, searching, or thoroughgoing
a radical reorganization of the company
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3. favoring major changes: favoring or making economic, political, or social changes of a sweeping or extreme nature
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4. U.S. excellent: excellent, admirable, or awe-inspiring
(
slang
)
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5. medicine removing disease source: describes medical treatment that is intended to remove the source of a disease, rather than simply treat the symptoms
a radical mastectomy
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6. botany growing from root: growing from a root of a plant or from the base of a stem
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7. mathematics of mathematical root: relating to the roots of numbers
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8. linguistics of word roots: relating to the roots of words
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noun (plural rad·i·cals) |
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| Definition: |
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1. somebody with radical views: somebody with radical views on political, economic, or social issues
the radicals in the party
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2. mathematics mathematical root: a mathematical root of another number or quantity
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3. chemistry
Same as free radical
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4. chemistry chemical group: a chemical group that behaves as a single entity in reactions
(
dated
)
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5. linguistics
Same as root1 (sense 10)
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| [14th century. < late Latin radicalis "of roots" < radic- "root"] |
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| rad·i·cal·ly adverb |
| rad·i·cal·ness noun |
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