rad

¹ American  

[rad] / ræd /

noun

Physics.

1. a unit of absorbed dose of radiation equal to 0.01 gray: not a standard SI unit, the rad is still used, especially in the U.S., but it is increasingly disfavored.

---

rad. ² American  

abbreviation

Mathematics.

1. radical.

2. radix.

---

rad ³ American  

[rad] / ræd /

noun

1. Informal. a radical, especially a person with extreme views on political and social issues.

---

adjective

radder, raddest

1. Slang. excellent; wonderful; cool.

   a high speed, high energy, totally rad racing game.

rad ⁴ American  

[rad] / ræd /

abbreviation

Mathematics.

1. radian; radians.

---

rad ¹ British  

symbol

1. radian

---

rad ² British  

/ ræd /

noun

1. a former unit of absorbed ionizing radiation dose equivalent to an energy absorption per unit mass of 0.01 joule per kilogram of irradiated material. 1 rad is equivalent to 0.01 gray

---

rad. ³ British  

abbreviation

1. radical

2. radius

---

rad Scientific  

/ răd /

1. A unit used to measure energy absorbed by a material from radiation. One rad is equal to 100 ergs per gram of material. Many scientists now measure this energy in grays rather than in rads.

---

rad Cultural  

1. An acronym for r adiation a bsorbed d ose. A unit of energy absorbed from ionizing radiation.

---

Etymology

Origin of rad¹

First recorded in 1915–20; r(adiation) a(bsorbed) d(ose)

Origin of rad¹

First recorded in 1820–25 rad ² for 1; 1975–80 rad ² for 2; shortening of radical

Origin of rad¹

First recorded in 1910–15; shortening

Example Sentences

“Happy Father’s Day to my baby daddy and rad co- parent,” she captioned a pair of family photos.

From Los Angeles Times

Hahn: This woman had been working with Marvel and “Agatha,” and so she was kind of sent my way, and then I kept working with her, and she’s rad.

From Los Angeles Times

No doubt “dropping in” and “chasing stoke” for eternity would be “rad.”

From Los Angeles Times

It’s just a rad place to be in.

From Los Angeles Times

So if I could sleep in until 9 a.m. or 9:30 a.m., that would be rad.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• astonishing
• astounding
• awesome
• breathtaking
• fantastic
• incredible
• marvelous
• outrageous
• phenomenal
• remarkable
• spectacular
• superb
• terrific
• unbelievable