radius etymology

Etymology:

  • Late Latin: radius
  • Classical Latin: radius, "ray, spoke of a wheel"
  • Proto-Indo-European: *h₂reh₂ds-os, "spoke"

Meaning and Origin:

"Radius" originally meant "spoke of a wheel" in Latin. It derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *h₂reh₂ds-os, which means "spoke" or "rod." The root also gave rise to words in other languages, such as:

  • Sanskrit: aratni, "spoke"
  • Greek: arathis, "spoke"
  • Old English: raed, "spoke, bar"
  • German: Rad, "wheel"

Over time, the meaning of "radius" expanded to include other meanings related to its shape:

  • Astronomy: The distance from the center of a circle or sphere to its edge, especially the distance from the center of the Earth to the equator.
  • Anatomy: The long, slender bone in the forearm that runs from the elbow to the thumb.
  • Geometry: A line segment that connects the center of a circle or sphere to a point on its edge.
  • Mathematics: The number that divides the circumference of a circle by its diameter, approximately 3.14159.

radius relate terms

  • radial

    Etymology The word radial is derived from the Latin word radius which means ray or

  • radius

    Etymology Late Latin radius Classical Latin radius ray spoke of a wheel Proto Ind

  • radian

    Etymology The word radian is derived from the Latin word radius meaning ray or sp

  • radius

    Etymology Late Latin radius Classical Latin radius ray spoke of a wheel Proto Ind

  • radiation

    Etymology Latin radiare to radiate emit rays Indo European h₁reh₁ to shine

  • spoke

    Etymology The word spoke comes from the Old English word spaca which means spoke o

  • verge

    Etymology The word verge has several etymologies Latin virga a rod twig vir

  • compass

    Etymology Old French compas Latin compassus stride Vulgar Latin compassare to

  • rapt

    Etymology The word rapt comes from the Latin word rapere meaning to seize or to c

  • part

    Part Etymology Middle English in the sense portion portion of a whole from Old

  • trap

    Etymology The word trap has origins in several languages Old English træppe Midd

  • ignore

    Noun cat dog tree car book Verb run jump walk talk eat Adjective big small red

  • region

    Etymology The word region derives from the Latin word regiō meaning district ter