Radius \Ra"di*us\, n.; pl. L. Radii; E. Radiuses. [L., a staff, rod, spoke of a wheel, radius, ray. See Ray a divergent line.]

1. (Geom.) A right line drawn or extending from the center of a circle to the periphery; the semidiameter of a circle or sphere.

2. (Anat.) The preaxial bone of the forearm, or brachium, corresponding to the tibia of the hind limb. See Illust. of Artiodactyla.

Note: The radius is on the same side of the limb as the thumb, or pollex, and in man it so articulated that its lower end is capable of partial rotation about the ulna.

3. (Bot.) A ray, or outer floret, of the capitulum of such plants as the sunflower and the daisy. See Ray, 2.

4. pl. (Zo["o]l.)
   (a) The barbs of a perfect feather.
   (b) Radiating organs, or color-markings, of the radiates.

5. The movable limb of a sextant or other angular instrument. --Knight.

Radius bar (Math.), a bar pivoted at one end, about which it swings, and having its other end attached to a piece which it causes to move in a circular arc.

Radius of curvature. See under Curvature.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)