I. ˈrādēəl adjective
Etymology: Medieval Latin radialis, from Latin radius ray, beam + -alis -al — more at ray
1. : issuing in rays : relating to rays of light
intense radial heat is applied — Chem. Abstracts
2.
a. : arranged or having parts arranged like rays
radial blades in a blower
most cities show a radial pattern of main highways leading outward from their center — C.L.White & G.T.Renner
young dome mountains and volcanoes have radial drainage lines — A.K.Lobeck
radial seating in an auditorium
b. : being an architectural plan in which the disposition is radial as distinguished from longitudinal
radial plan of a church
3.
a. : relating to or placed like a radius
radial blocks for chimney-construction — L.A.Harding
: moving or taking place along a radius : having the direction of a radius
radial acceleration
radial velocity
b. : characterized by divergence from or as if from a center
4.
a. : of, relating to, or adjacent to a bodily radius (as the bone of the forearm or the ray of a starfish)
b. : being any of various plates of a crinoid that lie between the basal and brachial plates
5.
a. : developing uniformly around a central axis — opposed to dorsiventral
b. : relating to a ray or ray flower
c. : having the xylem and phloem lying on alternate radii of the axis usually separated by nonvascular tissue
a radial actinostele
II. noun
( -s )
1.
a. : radial part: as
(1) : a bar at right angles to a curved part (as in an arch)
(2) : the radial arm or quadrant on which the change wheels are secured in a screw-cutting lathe
b. : any of a system of radial lines : ray ; specifically : a line of position radiating from a radio navigational aid transmitter
2.
a. : a body part (as an artery, nerve, or plate) lying near or following the course of the radius ; sometimes : radiale
b. : hypercoracoid
3. : radial engine
III. noun
: radial tire herein