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bipolar

[ bahy-poh-ler ]
/ baɪˈpoʊ lər /
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adjective
having two poles, as the earth.
of, relating to, or found at both polar regions.
characterized by opposite extremes, as two conflicting political philosophies.
Electronics. of or relating to a transistor that uses both positive and negative charge carriers.
Psychiatry. of, relating to, or having bipolar disorder: His wife is bipolar.
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Origin of bipolar

First recorded in 1800–10; bi-1 + polar

OTHER WORDS FROM bipolar

bi·po·lar·i·ty, nounbi·po·lar·i·za·tion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use bipolar in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for bipolar

bipolar
/ (baɪˈpəʊlə) /

adjective
having two polesa bipolar dynamo; a bipolar neuron
relating to or found at the North and South Poles
having or characterized by two opposed opinions, natures, etc
(of a transistor) utilizing both majority and minority charge carriers
suffering from bipolar manic-depressive disorder

Derived forms of bipolar

bipolarity, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for bipolar

bipolar
[ bī-pōlər ]

Relating to or having two poles or charges.
Relating to a semiconductor device, such as a transistor, that exploits the electrical characteristics of contact between two substances, one with an inherent positive charge, the other with an inherent negative charge.
Relating to or involving both of the Earth's polar regions.
Relating to a neuron that has two processes or extremities.
Relating to bipolar disorder.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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