radicals

Noun

radical (plural radicals)

1. A root (of a number or quantity).
2. 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.

   Synonyms:

   semantophore

3. (common, proscribed) Any component of a logographic character, whether used for indexing or not, whether semantic or not.
   • The boy recognised the Chinese characters, though the calligraphy looked a bit strange, as if drawn by someone who had seen them and copied them out radical by radical without knowing what they meant.2022, R. F. Kuang, Babel, HarperVoyager, page 9

   Synonyms:

   component

4. In Celtic languages, the basic, underlying form of an initial consonant which can be further mutated under the Celtic initial consonant mutations.
5. In Semitic languages, any one of the set of consonants (typically three) that make up a root.
6. A group of atoms, joined by covalent bonds, that take part in reactions as a single unit.

See all 23 meanings of radical