RADIUS • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Radius

Add this Dictionary
to your website!
See more options...

/rˈeɪdiəs/ Listen

noun

Radius n. (pl. L. radii; E. radiuses)

(Geom.) A right line drawn or extending from the center of a circle to the periphery; the semidiameter of a circle or sphere.

(Anat.) The preaxial bone of the forearm, or brachium, corresponding to the tibia of the hind limb. Note: The radius is on the same side of the limb as the thumb, or pollex, and in man it is so articulated that its lower end is capable of partial rotation about the ulna.

(Bot.) A ray, or outer floret, of the capitulum of such plants as the sunflower and the daisy. See Ray, 2.

pl. (Zool.)

(a)

The barbs of a perfect feather.

(b)

Radiating organs, or color-markings, of the radiates.

The movable limb of a sextant or other angular instrument.

Radius bar (Mach.), a bar pivoted at one end, about which it swings, and having its other end attached to a piece which it causes to move in a circular arc.

Radius of curvature. See under Curvature.

See images of 'Radius'

Etymology of 'Radius'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

Share |

"Radius" Quotes from Famous Books

... Peyton Morris; Lee would have sworn that he understood him thoroughly—a character as simple, as obvious as Fanny's. But here was Morris seated with Mina Raff on the stairs to the upper floor, beyond the radius of the fire; and, though they were not ten feet away, he could not hear a word of what they were saying. At intervals there was an indistinct murmur, nothing more. Claire, at Lee Randon's side, was sitting with her chin high and a gaze concentrated on the ...

— Cytherea • Joseph Hergesheimer

... liberty than any other man of Christendom, and even his political liberty is fast succumbing to the new dogma that certain theories of government are virtuous and lawful and others abhorrent and felonious. Laws limiting the radius of his free activity multiply year by year: it is now practically impossible for him to exhibit anything describable as genuine individuality, either in action or in thought, without running afoul of some harsh and unintelligible penalty. It would surprise no impartial ...

— The American Credo - A Contribution Toward the Interpretation of the National Mind • George Jean Nathan

... reason that makes geometry careless of language. The vilest jargon that ever was used by a shivering savage of Terra del Fuego is as capable of dealing with the sublime and eternal affections of space and quantity, with up and down, with more and less, with circle and radius, angle and tangent, as is the golden language of Athens.] and the story which illustrates it is this:—A great work of Apollonius, the sublime geometer, was supposed in part to have perished: seven of the eight books remained in the original Greek; but the eighth was missing. The Greek, ...

— Theological Essays and Other Papers v1 • Thomas de Quincey

... in his heart. Though he was a man so silent, and appearing to be so apathetic, he was intent enough on his own purposes when they became clear before his eyes. From his first coming into this country his purport had been to do good, as far as the radius of his circle went, to all whom it included. The necessity of living was no doubt the same with him as with others,—and of living well. He must do something for himself and his children. But together with this was the ...

— The Landleaguers • Anthony Trollope

... her arm. In the dark, somewhere over toward the highway, but in the direction of the river, the sound of a man running over the ploughed ground might be heard as he stumbled and grunted and panted in fear. She shook her head reassuringly as the men from the town came into the radius of the light from her lantern, and as they stepped on the hard clean-swept earth of her doorway, she ...

— A Certain Rich Man • William Allen White

More quotes...