Definitions for the word "radical" from multiple English dictionaries.
1. a.
Of or pertaining to the root; proceeding directly from the root.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
2. a.
Hence: Of or pertaining to the root or origin; reaching to the center, to the foundation, to the ultimate sources, to the principles, or the like; original; fundamental; thorough-going; unsparing; extreme; as, radical evils; radical reform; a radical party.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
3. a.
Belonging to, or proceeding from, the root of a plant; as, radical tubers or hairs.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
4. a.
Proceeding from a rootlike stem, or one which does not rise above the ground; as, the radical leaves of the dandelion and the sidesaddle flower.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
5. a.
Relating, or belonging, to the root, or ultimate source of derivation; as, a radical verbal form.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
6. a.
Of or pertaining to a radix or root; as, a radical quantity; a radical sign. See below.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
7. n.
A primitive word; a radix, root, or simple, underived, uncompounded word; an etymon.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
8. n.
A primitive letter; a letter that belongs to the radix.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
9. n.
One who advocates radical changes in government or social institutions, especially such changes as are intended to level class inequalities; -- opposed to conservative.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
10. n.
A characteristic, essential, and fundamental constituent of any compound; hence, sometimes, an atom.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
11. n.
Specifically, a group of two or more atoms, not completely saturated, which are so linked that their union implies certain properties, and are conveniently regarded as playing the part of a single atom; a residue; -- called also a compound radical. Cf. Residue.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
12. n.
A radical quantity. See under Radical, a.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
13. a.
A radical vessel. See under Radical, a.
Source: The 1913 Webster Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
14. adj.
1 fundamental (a radical error). 2 far-reaching; thorough (radical change). 3 advocating thorough reform; holding extreme political views; revolutionary. 4 forming the basis; primary. 5 of the root of a number or quantity. 6 (of surgery etc.) Seeking to ensure the removal of all diseased tissue. 7 of the roots of words. 8 bot. Of the root. n. 1 person holding radical views or belonging to a radical party. 2 chem. A = *free radical. B atom or a group of these normally forming part of a compound and remaining unaltered during the compound''s ordinary chemical changes. 3 root of a word. 4 math. Quantity forming or expressed as the root of another. radicalism n. Radically adv. [latin: related to *radix]
Source: Oxford English Dictionary, 1884
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