Radical
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Radical is derived from the Latin word radix, which means "root". In various fields of endeavor, it can mean:
- Sciences
- in chemistry, either an atom or molecule with at least one unpaired electron, or a group of atoms, charged or uncharged, that act as a single entity in reaction. These two definitions are not functionally identical. (see radical (chemistry)).
- in mathematics:
- the n-th radical or root of a number a, written as <math>\sqrt[n]{a}<math>, which is a number whose n-th power is a (see radical (mathematics)).
- the radical of an algebraic group is a concept in algebraic group theory.
- the radical of an ideal is an important concept in abstract algebra.
- in linguistics, a radical consonant involves the root of the tongue.
- in grammatology, it is part of a Chinese character (see radical (Chinese character)).
- Social sciences
- in sociology:
- one who advocates thoroughgoing analysis or change "at the root"
- in politics:
- can refer to a supporter of a revolutionary social movement
- can refer to a counterpart to reactionary; see Radical Republican
- can refer to member of a Radical Party
- can refer to a progressive liberal, like e.g. the Radicals, a group of left-wing MPs in the 19th-century British Parliament