Noun: free radical free'ra-di-kul
- 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";
- radical
Derived forms: free radicals
Type of: atom
Encyclopedia: Free radical