n. [ Auto- + radiogram. ] (Biochemistry) an image produced upon photographic film by exposure of the film to a radioactive substance in close proximity to (usually in contact with) the film. Recording the distribution of radioactive materials on an autoradiogram is a technique much used in biochemical research as part of analytical procedures, in which radioactively labeled substances are subjected to a separation process (such as electrophoresis) which can help to characterize the substance, and the resulting distribution of the labeled substance is recorded on an autoradiogram. In microbiology and cell biology, autoradiograms may be made on the same film as a photomicrograph, permitting observation of the distribution of labeled compounds within a cell. [ PJC ]

n. same as autoradiogram. [ PJC ]

n. the process of producing an autoradiogram by exposing photographic film to a radioactive substance in close proximity to the film. [ PJC ]

a. 1. Of or pertaining to, or employing, or operated by, radiant energy, specifically that of electromagnetic waves with frequencies between those of infrared radiation and X-rays; hence, pertaining to, or employed in, broadcast radio or television, microwaves, radiotelephones, etc.; as, radio waves. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

2. of or pertaining to broadcast radio; as, a radio program. [ PJC ]

A combining form indicating connection with, or relation to, a radius or ray; specifically (Anat.), with the radius of the forearm; as, radio-ulnar, radio-muscular, radio-carpal. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Radio- + active. ] 1. (Physics) Capable of luminescence under the action of cathode rays, X rays, or any of the allied forms of radiation. [ obsolete ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. (Physics) of, exhibiting, or caused by radioactivity. [ PJC ]

n. (Physics) a form of instability which is a property of the atomic nuclei of certain isotopes, which causes a spontaneous change in the structure of the nucleus, accompanied by emission of energetic radiation. The radiation emitted is usually sufficient to cause ionization in matter through which it passes, and is therefore called ionizing radiation. The radiation emitted by most radioactive substances is one of three types: alpha rays, beta rays, or gamma rays. Some chemical elements have no stable isotopes, and these are referred to as radioactive elements, and the element itself is said to possess radioactivity. The changes in radioactive nuclei which cause radiation in most cases cause the chemical identity of the nucleus itself to change, as when tritium (an isotope of hydrogen) emits a beta ray and converts to helium. The radioactive decay process is a first-order reaction, and the rate of decay of a particular isotope can therefore be expressed as the half life of the isotope, which is the time it takes for one half of the remaining undecayed isotope to decay, and is a constant independent of the proportion of original material which has already decayed. The half life of tritium, for example, is 12.3 years. [ PJC ]

n. (Elec.) A substance or device that has its conductivity altered in some way by electric waves, as a coherer. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

‖n. pl. [ NL. See Radiate, and Flagellata. ] (Zool.) A group of Protozoa having both flagella and pseudopodia. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Radio- + -graph. ] 1. An instrument for measuring and recording solar radiation. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. An image or picture produced upon a sensitive surface, as of a photographic or fluorescent plate, by some form of penetrating radiation other than light, as X-rays, beta rays, etc.; esp., a picture of the internal structure of opaque objects traversed by the rays; a skiagraph. When the picture is produced upon photographic film by X-rays, the picture is usually called an X-ray photo or X-ray. When an image is produced on photographic film by a radioactive substance in close proximity to the film, in a manner so as to record the spatial distribution of the radioactive substance, the resulting image is called an autoradiograph or autoradiogram. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

v. t. To make a radiograph of. -- ra`di*og"ra*pher n. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

n. Art or process of making radiographs, radiograms, or autoradiograms. -- ra`di*o*graph"ic ra`di*o*graph"ic*al a. -- Ra`di*o*graph"ic*al*ly, adv. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

‖n. pl. [ NL. See Radioli. ] (Zool.) Order of rhizopods, usually having a siliceous skeleton, or shell, and sometimes radiating spicules. The pseudopodia project from the body like rays. It includes the polycystines. See Polycystina. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Of or pertaining to the Radiolaria. -- n. One of the Radiolaria. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl.; sing. Radiolus /sing>. [ NL., dim. of L. radius radius: cf. L. radiolus a feeble sunbeam. ] (Zool.) The barbs of the radii of a feather; barbules. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. radius ray + -lite: cf. F. radiolithe. ] (Paleon.) A hippurite. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. radius radius + -meter: cf. F. radiomètre. ] 1. (Naut.) A forestaff. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Physics) An instrument designed for measuring the mechanical effect of radiant energy. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ It consists of a number of light disks, blackened on one side, placed at the ends of extended arms, supported on a pivot in an exhausted glass vessel. When exposed to rays of light or heat, the arms rotate. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Physics) The use of the radiometer, or the measurement of radiation. -- Ra`di*o*met"ric a. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

n. [ Radio- + micrometer. ] (Physics) A very sensitive modification or application of the thermopile, used for indicating minute changes of radiant heat, or temperature. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Radio- + phare. ] A radiotelegraphic station serving solely for determining the position of ships. The radius of operation of such stations was restricted by the International Radiotelegraphic Convention (1912) to 30 nautical miles. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Radio- + Gr. fwnh` sound. ] 1. (Physics) An apparatus for the production of sound by the action of luminous or thermal rays. It is essentially the same as the photophone. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. a telephone using radio waves, rather than wires, to convey the voice signal. [ PJC ]

n. (Physics) The art or practice of using the radiophone. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Radio- + stereopticon. ] See Projector, above. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Radio- + -scopy. ] Direct observation of objects opaque to light by means of some other form of radiant energy, as x-rays. -- Ra`di*o*scop"ic Ra`di*o*scop"ic*al a. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. A message transmitted by radiotelegraph. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Radio- + telegraph. ] A wireless telegraph. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. Of or pertaining to radiotelegraphy; employing, or used or employed in, radiotelegraphy. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Radio- + telegraphy. ] Telegraphy using the radiant energy of radio waves; wireless telegraphy; -- the term adopted for use by the Radiotelegraphic Convention of 1912. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. A wireless telephone, in which the signal is conveyed by radio waves. -- Ra`di*o*te*leph"o*ny n. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

n. [ Radio- + therapy. ] (Med.) Treatment of disease by means of x-rays or radioactivity. Radiotherapy of cancer is based on the fact that cancer cells are more sensitive to radiation than most other cells in the body. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

n. (Chem.) an earlier name for the thorium isotope thorium-228, given by its discoverer Otto Hahn. It is a radioactive substance formed as one of series of products in the chain of radioactive decay of thorium. Its immediate predecessor in the chain is Actinium-228, and it decays by alpha emission to radium-224 with a half-life of 1.91 years. The name radiothorium was given prior to the full understanding of the nature of isotopes of elements. [ PJC ]

a. [ L. radiosus. ] 1. Consisting of rays, as light. [ R. ] Berkeley. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Radiating; radiant. [ Obs. ] G. Fletcher. [ 1913 Webster ]