radical
/ˈɹædɪkəl/ noun B2- A root (of a number or quantity).
- In logographic writing systems such as the Chinese writing system, the portion of a character (if any) that provides an indication of its meaning, as opposed to being wholly phonetic.
- Any component of a logographic character, whether used for indexing or not, whether semantic or not.
- 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.
- A group of atoms, joined by covalent bonds, that take part in reactions as a single unit.
- A free radical.
- Given an ideal I in a commutative ring R, another ideal, denoted Rad(I) or √I, such that an element x ∈ R is in Rad(I) if, for some positive integer n, xⁿ ∈ I; equivalently, the intersection of all prime ideals containing I.
Plural radicals
From the library
For a moment it seemed to me that there must be some radical mistake in my calculations.
Although some of his more radical proposals failed to gain traction, these specific alterations resonated deeply with the American public.
Experts recognized that the fundamental relationship between agriculture and the local ecosystem needed to undergo a radical transformation.
As the migration continued farther north to Chicago, the blues underwent a radical transformation to suit the urban environment.
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