n. 1.energy that is radiated or transmitted in the form of rays or waves or particles 2.the act of spreading outward from a central source 3.syndrome resulting from exposure to ionizing radiation (e.g., exposure to radioactive chemicals or to nuclear explosions) 4.the spontaneous emission of a stream of particles or electromagnetic rays in nuclear decay 5.the spread of a group of organisms into new habitats 6.a radial arrangement of nerve fibers connecting different parts of the brain 7.(medicine) the treatment of disease (especially cancer) by exposure to radiation from a radioactive substance