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radius

Syllabification: (ra·di·us)
Pronunciation: /ˈrādēəs/

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Definition of radius

noun (plural radii /ˈrādēˌī/ or radiuses)

  • 1a straight line from the center to the circumference of a circle or sphere. See also illustration at geometric.
  • a radial line from the focus to any point of a curve.
  • the length of the radius of a circle or sphere.
  • a specified distance from a center in all directions:there are plenty of local pubs within a two-mile radius
  • 2 Anatomy the thicker and shorter of the two bones in the human forearm. Compare with ulna.
  • Zoology the corresponding bone in a vertebrate’s foreleg or a bird’s wing.
  • Zoology (in an echinoderm or coelenterate) any of the primary axes of radial symmetry.
  • Entomology any of the main veins in an insect’s wing.

Origin:

late 16th century (radius (sense 2)): from Latin, literally 'staff, spoke, ray'

The plural of radius can be spelled either radii (as in the original Latin) or radiuses.

radius in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of radius in the British & World English dictionary