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# radical

adjective (radical, more radical, most radical); noun (a radical, radicals)

«radical» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Very big and basic, changing the most important parts of something: a radical change. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/radical/#m1)
2. Having very strong or extreme ideas about how society or politics should change. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/radical/#m2)
3. (noun) A person with extreme political ideas. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/radical/#m3)
4. (maths) To do with roots, such as the square root sign √, which is called the radical sign. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/radical/#m4)
5. (science) A free radical is an atom or group of atoms with an unpaired electron, which reacts easily. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/radical/#m5)
6. (slang, US, dated) Really cool or amazing — "Radical, dude!" [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/radical/#m6)

### In the lessons

In everyday life, a radical change is a huge one, like moving to a new country. In politics and history lessons, radicals were people who wanted big changes fast, sometimes peaceful, sometimes violent. In maths, the radical sign √ shows a square root: √16 = 4. In stories, a "radical" character challenges how things are. Phrases: radical change, radical idea, radical sign, free radical.

### Examples

- The new head teacher made radical changes to the timetable. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/radical/#x1)
- Moving from the city to a farm was a radical change for our family. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/radical/#x2)
- Some radicals wanted to get rid of the king. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/radical/#x3)
- In maths, the radical sign √ means "square root of". [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/radical/#x4)
- √25 is called a radical expression, and it equals 5. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/radical/#x5)
- "That skateboard trick was radical!" shouted the surfer dude. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/radical/#x6)
- Her idea to have no homework at all seemed radical to the teachers. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/radical/#x7)

### Note

"Radical" comes from Latin "radix", meaning root — so a radical change goes right to the roots. In maths, √ is the radical sign: √9 = 3 because 3 × 3 = 9. The slang meaning "cool" is old-fashioned 1980s surfer talk, now mostly a joke. Adverb: radically.

## In Jewish tradition

Here it means having to do with the root or foundation of things.

**Interpretation.** In the Sefer Yetzirah, the Fifth Path is the "Radical Intelligence," which is the root essence joined to Binah, understanding, one of the divine paths of wisdom.

### Examples

- The Fifth Path is called the Radical Intelligence, because it is itself the essence equal to the Unity, uniting itself to the BINAH or Intelligence which emanates from the primordial depths of Wisdom or CHOCHMAH. (Sefer Yetzirah, Westcott 1887) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/radical/#x1)

### Note

"Radical" comes from Latin "radix", meaning root — so a radical change goes right to the roots. In maths, √ is the radical sign: √9 = 3 because 3 × 3 = 9. The slang meaning "cool" is old-fashioned 1980s surfer talk, now mostly a joke. Adverb: radically.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «radical» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/radical/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«radical» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/radical.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «radical» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/R/radical/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«radical» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/radical.html) on Mova free.