An abbreviation of 'radical'--a term made popular by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Still primarily used by people on the West Coast who find words like 'cool', 'awesome', and 'tight' to be tired and overused; 'rad' is generally considered to be a much higher praise than the aforementioned superlatives. Also used as a general expression of awe.
really cool, but in a more subtle way. as opposed to extreme or awesome. one of the highestcompliments you can give someone. being rad is like being cool without having to work for it. it's like a natural coolness.
she seems quiet at frist, but she's actually pretty rad when you get to know her.
these pro skaters have it all wrong, it should be less extreme and more rad, like it was back in the day.
It is rare to use. It's a cool slang word from the 1970s/80s. It means "awesome", "exceptional", "cool". It's something American surfers or skateboarders would say.