radial

1 of 2

adjective

ra·​di·​al ˈrā-dē-əl 

1

: arranged or having parts arranged like rays

2

a

: relating to, placed like, or moving along a radius

b

: characterized by divergence from a center

3

: of, relating to, or adjacent to a bodily radius

4

: developing uniformly around a central axis

radially

ˈrā-dē-ə-lē 

adverb

radial

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a radial part

b

: ray

2

: a body part (such as an artery) lying near or following the course of the radius

3

: a pneumatic tire in which the ply cords that extend to the beads are laid at approximately 90 degrees to the centerline of the tread

called also radial-ply tire, radial tire

Examples of radial in a Sentence

Adjective

the radial form of a starfish

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Barnard’s b was detected using the radial velocity method — a measurement of the host star’s wobble that can only exist if there’s a slight gravitational pull from one or more orbiting planets. —Jamie Carter, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024

The disk’s material will most likely fall onto the embryonic moon from the radial (in-out) direction, sculpting the satellite into an egg or football shape—what’s called a prolate spheroid—with the long axis pointing toward the parent body. —Phil Plait, Scientific American, 20 Sep. 2024

Noun

All-weather radials and fine dining have little in common, after all. —Elisabeth Buchwald, CNN, 10 Feb. 2024

The top speed is governed at 130 mph and limited by the H rating of the Goodyear radials. —Steven Cole Smith, Car and Driver, 2 Sep. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Medieval Latin radialis, from Latin radius ray

First Known Use

Adjective

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1872, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing radial

• radial cleavage
• radial engine
• radial keratotomy
• radial symmetry

Kids Definition

radial

1 of 2 adjective

ra·​di·​al ˈrād-ē-əl 

1

: arranged or having parts arranged like rays around a common center

the radial form of a starfish

2

: relating to, placed like, or moving along a bodily radius (as the bone of the forearm)

radially

-ē-ə-lē 

adverb

radial

2 of 2 noun

1

: a radial part

2

: a tire in which the ply cords are at right angles to the centerline of the tread

called also radial tire

Medical Definition

radial

1 of 2 adjective

ra·​di·​al ˈrād-ē-əl 

1

: arranged or having parts arranged like rays

2

: of, relating to, or situated near the radius or the thumb side of the hand or forearm

the radial aspect of the hand

3

: developing uniformly around a central axis

radial cleavage of an egg

radially

-ē-ə-lē 

adverb

radial

2 of 2 noun

: a body part (as an artery) lying near or following the course of the radius