radial
- 01 C1 Advanced
adj.arranged in straight lines that come out from a center point, like the spokes on a bicycle wheel.
adj.arranged like rays that radiate from, or converge to, a common center point.
Simple“The city was built with a radial pattern of streets leading to the main square.”
In context“The architect proposed a radial design for the new library, ensuring that all reading rooms were equidistant from the central circulation desk.”
UsageOften used to describe urban planning or geometric patterns.
- 02 C2 Proficiency
adj.relating to the radius bone in your arm or similar structures in plants and animals.
adj.relating to the radius bone of the forearm or exhibiting symmetry around a central axis in biological organisms.
Simple“The doctor checked the patient's radial pulse at the wrist.”
In context“Starfish exhibit radial symmetry, with their body parts arranged around a central disk rather than having a left and right side.”
UsageIn medicine, it most frequently refers to the radial artery or nerve near the radius bone.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.a type of tire where the internal layers are arranged at a 90-degree angle to the direction of travel.
adj.relating to a pneumatic tire in which the ply cords are laid substantially at 90 degrees to the centerline of the tread.
Simple“Most modern cars use radial tires because they last longer and provide a smoother ride.”
In context“The transition from bias-ply to radial construction significantly improved vehicle fuel efficiency and cornering stability in the late twentieth century.”
Antonymscross plybias ply - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
“To build a web, orb-weaver spiders use strong silk that forms the frame and radial “spokes” of the web .”
From Medieval Latin radiālis (“radial”), from Latin radius. By surface analysis, radius + -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.