radical

/ɹˈædɪkə‍l/

/ˈɹædəkəɫ/, /ˈɹædɪkəɫ/

[adjective] [noun]

radical

[ADJECTIVE]

(of actions, ideas, etc.) very new and different from the norm

synonyms : extremist

ultra

supporting total and extreme social or political changes

synonyms : revolutionary

arising from or going to the root or source

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

antonyms : cauline

of or relating to or constituting a linguistic root

Radical

[NOUN]

(chemistry) two or more atoms bound together as a single unit and forming part of a molecule

synonyms : chemical group

group

an atom or group of atoms with at least one unpaired electron; in the body it is usually an oxygen molecule that has lost an electron and will stabilize itself by stealing an electron from a nearby molecule

synonyms : free radical

a person whose political inclination is social and political change

a character conveying the lexical meaning of a logogram

(linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed

synonyms : base

(mathematics) a quantity expressed as the root of another quantity

Examples

1. The blueberries were rich in antioxidants, which helped protect the body against free radicals.

2. Peaches are packed with antioxidants that help protect your body against harmful free radicals.

3. It was revealed that the FBI kept tabs on him for years just because he once attended a meeting of a radical group.

4. You may have method to your madness, but these radical changes to the business could still prove catastrophic.