Dictionary entry details
• RADICAL (noun)
Meaning:
(chemistry) two or more atoms bound together as a single unit and forming part of a molecule
Classified under:
Nouns denoting substances
Synonyms:
radical; chemical group; group
Hypernyms ("radical" is a kind of...):
building block; unit (a single undivided natural thing occurring in the composition of something else)
Domain category:
chemical science; chemistry (the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "radical"):
hydroxyl; hydroxyl group; hydroxyl radical (the monovalent group -OH in such compounds as bases and some acids and alcohols)
hydrazo group; hydrazo radical (the bivalent group -HNNH- derived from hydrazine)
glyceryl (a trivalent radical derived from glycerol by removing the three hydroxyl radicals)
cyanide group; cyanide radical; cyano group; cyano radical (the monovalent group -CN in a chemical compound)
chromophore (the chemical group that gives color to a molecule)
ketone group (a group having the characteristic properties of ketones)
methylene; methylene group; methylene radical (the bivalent radical CH2 derived from methane)
propyl; propyl group; propyl radical (the monovalent organic group C3H7- obtained from propane)
butyl (a hydrocarbon radical (C4H9))
nitro group (the group -NO3)
nitrite (the radical -NO2 or any compound containing it (such as a salt or ester of nitrous acid))
uranyl; uranyl group; uranyl radical (the bivalent radical UO2 which forms salts with acids)
carboxyl; carboxyl group (the univalent radical -COOH; present in and characteristic of organic acids)
carbonyl group (the bivalent radical CO)
arsenic group; cacodyl; cacodyl group; cacodyl radical (the univalent group derived from arsine)
acyl; acyl group (any group or radical of the form RCO- where R is an organic group)
alcohol group; alcohol radical (the chemical group -OH)
aldehyde group; aldehyde radical (the chemical group -CHO)
alkyl; alkyl group; alkyl radical (any of a series of univalent groups of the general formula CnH2n+1 derived from aliphatic hydrocarbons)
allyl; allyl group; allyl radical (the univalent unsaturated organic radical C3H5; derived from propylene)
amino; amino group (the radical -NH2)
amyl (a hydrocarbon radical that occurs in many organic compounds)
azido group; azido radical (the univalent group N3- derived from hydrazoic acid)
azo group; azo radical (the bivalent group -N=N- united to two hydrocarbon groups)
benzyl; benzyl group; benzyl radical (the univalent radical derived from toluene)
benzoyl group; benzoyl radical (the univalent radical derived from benzoic acid)
vinyl; vinyl group; vinyl radical (a univalent chemical radical derived from ethylene)
Holonyms ("radical" is a part of...):
molecule ((physics and chemistry) the simplest structural unit of an element or compound)
Meaning:
An atom or group of atoms with at least one unpaired electron; in the body it is usually an oxygen molecule than has lost an electron and will stabilize itself by stealing an electron from a nearby molecule
Classified under:
Nouns denoting substances
Synonyms:
free radical; radical
Context example:
in the body free radicals are high-energy particles that ricochet wildly and damage cells
Hypernyms ("radical" is a kind of...):
atom ((physics and chemistry) the smallest component of an element having the chemical properties of the element)
Meaning:
A person who has radical ideas or opinions
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Hypernyms ("radical" is a kind of...):
individual; mortal; person; somebody; someone; soul (a human being)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "radical"):
Young Turk (a young radical who agitates for reform)
Wobbly (a member of the Industrial Workers of the World)
Trot; Trotskyist; Trotskyite (radicals who support Trotsky's theory that socialism must be established throughout the world by continuing revolution)
terrorist (a radical who employs terror as a political weapon; usually organizes with other terrorists in small cells; often uses religion as a cover for terrorist activities)
revolutionary; revolutionist; subversive; subverter (a radical supporter of political or social revolution)
leveler; leveller (a radical who advocates the abolition of political or economic or social inequalities)
extremist (a person who holds extreme views)
Bolshevik; bolshie; bolshy; Marxist; red (emotionally charged terms used to refer to extreme radicals or revolutionaries)
anarchist; nihilist; syndicalist (an advocate of anarchism)
Meaning:
A character conveying the lexical meaning of a logogram
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Hypernyms ("radical" is a kind of...):
character; grapheme; graphic symbol (a written symbol that is used to represent speech)
Holonyms ("radical" is a part of...):
ideogram; ideograph (a graphic character used in ideography)
Meaning:
A sign placed in front of an expression to denote that a root is to be extracted
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Synonyms:
radical sign; radical
Hypernyms ("radical" is a kind of...):
mathematical notation (a notation used by mathematicians)
Meaning:
(linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Synonyms:
root word; stem; root; theme; radical; base
Context example:
thematic vowels are part of the stem
Hypernyms ("radical" is a kind of...):
descriptor; form; signifier; word form (the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something)
Domain category:
linguistics (the scientific study of language)
• RADICAL (adjective)
Meaning:
(used of opinions and actions) far beyond the norm
Synonyms:
ultra; radical; extremist
Context examples:
extremist political views / radical opinions on education / an ultra conservative
Similar:
immoderate (not within reasonable limits)
Meaning:
Markedly new or introducing radical change
Synonyms:
revolutionary; radical
Context examples:
a revolutionary discovery / radical political views
Similar:
new (not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered)
Meaning:
Arising from or going to the root
Context example:
a radical flaw in the plan
Similar:
basic (pertaining to or constituting a base or basis)
Meaning:
Of or relating to or constituting a linguistic root
Classified under:
Relational adjectives (pertainyms)
Context example:
a radical verb form
Domain category:
linguistics (the scientific study of language)
Pertainym:
root ((linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed)
Meaning:
Especially of leaves; located at the base of a plant or stem; especially arising directly from the root or rootstock or a root-like stem
Synonyms:
basal; radical
Context examples:
basal placentation / radical leaves
Domain category:
botany; phytology (the branch of biology that studies plants)
Antonym:
cauline (especially of leaves; growing on a stem especially on the upper part of a stem)
