Radial refers to the pattern that you get when straight lines are drawn from the centre of a circle to a number of points round the edge.
The white marble floors were inlaid in a radial pattern of brass.
2. countable noun
A radial or a radial tyre is a tyre which is strengthened inside by cords that point towards the centre of the wheel. Radials are less likely to slide sideways on wet or icy roads than other tyres.
radial in British English
(ˈreɪdɪəl)
adjective
1.
(of lines, bars, beams of light, etc) emanating from a common central point; arranged like the radii of a circle
2.
of, like, or relating to a radius or ray
3.
spreading out or developing uniformly on all sides
4.
of or relating to the arms of a starfish or similar radiating structures
5. anatomy
of or relating to the radius or forearm
6. astronomy
(of velocity) in a direction along the line of sight of a celestial object and measured by means of the red shift (or blue shift) of the spectral lines of the object
Compare tangential (sense 2)
noun
7.
a radial part or section
8. zoology
a.
any of the basal fin rays of most bony fishes
b.
a radial or radiating structure, such as any of the ossicles supporting the oral disc of a sea star
9. short for radial tyre, radial drilling machine
Derived forms
radially (ˈradially)
adverb
Word origin
C16: from Medieval Latin radiālis from radius
radial in American English
(ˈreɪdiəl)
adjective
1.
a.
of or like a ray or rays; branching out in all directions from a common center
b.
having or characterized by parts that branch out in this way
2.
of or situated like a radius
3. Anatomy
of or near the radius or forearm
noun
4.
a radial part or structure
5.
radial (ply) tire
Derived forms
radially (ˈradially)
adverb
Word origin
< ML radialis: see radius
Examples of 'radial' in a sentence
radial
His radial arm saw was there and he built cabinets and plaques to mount his specimens on.
Wood, Ted FOOLS GOLD (2001)
With the big radial engines grumbling, the Mallard eased past a starboard handmarker labelled `Bald Head".
Terman, Douglas CORMORANT (2001)
They headed out the 020 radial as they climbed out toward their stations.
James W. Huston FLASH POINT (2001)
All related terms of 'radial'
radial-ply
(of a motor tyre ) having the fabric cords in the outer casing running radially to enable the sidewalls to be flexible
radial road
one of many roads , arranged like the radii of a circle , that spread or lead outwards from the centre of a city
radial tyre
a motor-vehicle tyre having a radial-ply casing
radial engine
an internal-combustion engine having a number of cylinders arranged about a central crankcase
radial symmetry
a type of structure of an organism or part of an organism in which a vertical cut through the axis in any of two or more planes produces two halves that are mirror images of each other
radial velocity
the component of the velocity of an object, esp a celestial body, directed along a line from the observer to the object
radial keratotomy
an operation designed to improve short-sightedness in which a number of cuts are made around the cornea to change the shape of it
radial paralysis
paralysis of a forelimb as a result of loss of function of the radial nerve , usually following traumatic injury
radial (arm) saw
a circular saw suspended from a pivoted horizontal arm along which it can be moved
radial (ply) tire
a motor vehicle tire having a foundation of plies of rubberized cords running at right angles to the center line of the tread : it provides better handling , etc. than a bias ply tire
radial drilling machine
a machine in which the drilling head is mounted to slide along a radial arm which can be rotated , raised, or lowered on a vertical mast to adjust the position of the drill above the workpiece