|

free radical

DEFINITIONS OF: free radical

1

n an atom or group of atoms with at least one unpaired electron; in the body it is usually an oxygen molecule that has lost an electron and will stabilize itself by stealing an electron from a nearby molecule

“in the body free radicals are high-energy particles that ricochet wildly and damage cells”
Synonyms:
radical
Type of:
atom
(physics and chemistry) the smallest component of an element having the chemical properties of the element
WORD FAMILY
USAGE EXAMPLES