Radial

How to spell radial

6 letters · 3 syllables

How to pronounce radial

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does radial mean?

1. adjectiveArranged like rays or spokes that spread out from a central point.
2. nounA tyre whose internal cords run at right angles to the direction of travel for greater durability.

Radial in a sentence

• adjective

  The city was built on a radial street plan that fans out from the cathedral.

• noun

  The garage fitted a new steel-belted radial to the front wheel.

• adjective

  The engineer measured the radial distance from the hub to each support.

• noun

  A worn radial can affect both grip and fuel economy.

Where does radial come from?

Language of origin: Latin

This word descends from the Latin radius, which meant a ray of light, the spoke of a wheel, or a slender rod. From radius the Late Latin form radialis was built, meaning 'relating to a ray or spoke', and English adopted it as radial in the late 1500s. The original image of spokes fanning out from the hub of a wheel still drives the modern sense of lines spreading evenly from a central point. The same radius root gives us the geometric radius of a circle and even the radius bone in the forearm. The single 'd' and the 'radi-' spelling stay faithful to that Latin radius, which is a useful anchor against doubling letters by mistake.

How the word is built

• radi- (from Latin radius: ray, spoke)
• -al (adjective/noun suffix)