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Radical vs Primitive - What's the difference?

radical | primitive | Synonyms |

Radical is a synonym of primitive.


As adjectives the difference between radical and primitive

is that radical is favoring fundamental change, or change at the root cause of a matter while primitive is of or pertaining to the beginning or origin, or to early times; original; primordial; primeval; first.

As nouns the difference between radical and primitive

is that radical is a member of the most progressive wing of the liberal party; someone favouring social reform (but generally stopping short of socialism) while primitive is an original or primary word; a word not derived from another, as opposed to (derivative).

radical

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Favoring fundamental change, or change at the root cause of a matter.
    • His beliefs are radical .
  • (botany, not comparable) Pertaining to a root (of a plant).
  • Pertaining to the basic or intrinsic nature of something.
  • * Burke
    • The most determined exertions of that authority, against them, only showed their radical independence.
  • Thoroughgoing.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2012-01
    • , author=Donald Worster , title=A Drier and Hotter Future , volume=100, issue=1, page=70 , magazine= citation , passage=Phoenix and Lubbock are both caught in severe drought, and it is going to get much worse. We may see many such [dust] storms in the decades ahead, along with species extinctions, radical disturbance of ecosystems, and intensified social conflict over land and water. Welcome to the Anthropocene, the epoch when humans have become a major geological and climatic force.}}
    The spread of the cancer required radical surgery, and the entire organ was removed.
  • (linguistics, not comparable) Of or pertaining to the root of a word.
  • (linguistics, not comparable, of a sound) Produced using the root of the tongue.
  • (chemistry, not comparable) Involving free radicals.
  • (math) Relating to a radix or mathematical root.
    • a radical''' quantity; a '''radical sign
  • Excellent; awesome.
    • That was a radical jump!

    Derived terms

    * radicalness * radicality * radicalize * radically * radical empiricism * radical feminism * radical left * radical pluralism * radical reform * radical right * radical Islam * radical vinegar

    Related terms

    * root * radix

    Synonyms

    * (pertaining to the basic or intrinsic nature of something) fundamental

    Antonyms

    * (pertaining to the basic or intrinsic nature of something) ignorable, trivial

    Coordinate terms

    * (produced with the root of the tongue) labial, coronal, dorsal, laryngeal

    Noun

    (en noun) (wikipedia radical)
  • A member of the most progressive wing of the Liberal Party; someone favouring social reform (but generally stopping short of socialism).
  • A member of an influential, centrist political party favouring moderate social reform, a republican constitution, and secular politics.
  • A person with radical opinions.
  • (arithmetic) A root (of a number or quantity).
  • (linguistics) In logographic writing systems as the Chinese writing system, the portion of a character (if any) that provides an indication of its meaning, as opposed to phonetic .
  • (linguistics) In Semitic languages, any one of the set of consonants (typically three) that make up a root.
  • (chemistry) A group of atoms, joined by covalent bonds, that take part in reactions as a single unit.
  • (organic chemistry) A free radical.

    • Derived terms

    * free radical * radical sign

    External links

    * *

    Anagrams

    * ----

    primitive

    English

    (wikipedia primitive)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An original or primary word; a word not derived from another, as opposed to (derivative).
  • A member of a primitive society.
  • A simple-minded person.
  • (computing, programming) A data type that is built into the programming language, as opposed to more complex structures.
  • A basic geometric shape from which more complex shapes can be constructed.
  • (mathematics) A function whose derivative is a given function; an antiderivative.

    • Related terms

    * multiprimitive * prime

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of or pertaining to the beginning or origin, or to early times; original; primordial; primeval; first.
  • Of or pertaining to or harking back to a former time; old-fashioned; characterized by simplicity.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers), title=(A Cuckoo in the Nest)
    • , chapter=4 citation , passage=By some paradoxical evolution rancour and intolerance have been established in the vanguard of primitive Christianity. Mrs. Spoker, in common with many of the stricter disciples of righteousness, was as inclement in demeanour as she was cadaverous in aspect.}}
  • (rfc-sense) Crude, obsolete.
  • (grammar) Original; primary; radical; not derived.
  • (biology) Occurring in or characteristic of an early stage of development or evolution.

    • Derived terms

    * primitiveness

    Synonyms

    * backwards