radical
Of or pertaining to the root of a plant.
Adjective 4 meanings
Of or pertaining to the root of a plant.
Of or pertaining to the root of a word.
Produced using the root of the tongue.
Relating to a radix or mathematical root.
“a radical quantity; a radical sign”
Noun 4 meanings
A root (of a number or quantity).
In logographic writing systems such as the Chinese writing system, the portion of a character used to index it. Often, but not always, this is also the portion indicating meaning; compare the following sense.
In Celtic languages, the basic, underlying form of an initial consonant which can be further mutated under the Celtic initial consonant mutations.
In Semitic languages, any one of the set of consonants (typically three) that make up a root.
Etymology
PIE word *wréh₂ds Inherited from Middle English radical, from Latin rādīcālis (“of or pertaining to the root, having roots, radical”). Compare grassroots.
Similar and opposite words
RADICAL at a glance
RADICAL has 7 letters and scores 10 points in Scrabble (R 1 + A 1 + D 2 + I 1 + C 3 + A 1 + L 1) and 12 in Words With Friends, before board bonuses. It ranks #4,033 by how often it appears in everyday English. It is valid in ENABLE, NWL2023, Collins/SOWPODS.
Rhymes with radical
All rhymesOne letter away
- RADICEL10
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