bipolar

[bahy-poh-ler]

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.

Origin of bipolar

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

Related formsbi·po·lar·i·ty, nounbi·po·lar·i·za·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for bipolarity

Contemporary Examples of bipolarity

At its height, your own management career had the bipolarity of Cher on one side and Joan Rivers on the other.
Billy Sammeth, the Manager Fired by Cher and Joan Rivers, Tells His Side of the Story
Kevin Sessums
February 14, 2012

Historical Examples of bipolarity

The theory of bipolarity receives no support from the study of the fishes.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 14, Slice 3
Various

British Dictionary definitions for bipolarity

bipolar

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 Formsbipolarity, 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

Word Origin and History for bipolarity

also bi-polarity, 1834; see bi- + polarity.

bipolar

adj.

"having two poles," from bi- + polar; 1810 with figurative sense of "of double aspect;" 1859 with reference to physiology. Psychiatric use in reference to what had been called manic-depressive psychosis is said to have begun 1957 with German psychiatrist Karl Leonhard. The term became popular early 1990s. Bipolar disorder was in DSM III (1980).

bipolarity in Medicine

bipolar

[bī-pō′lər]

adj.

Having two poles; used especially of nerve cells in which the branches project from two usually opposite points.
Of or relating to both ends or poles of a bacterial or other cell.
Of or relating to a major mood disorder that is characterized by episodes of mania and depression.

Related formsbi′po•lar′i•ty (-lăr′ĭ-tē) n.

bipolarity in Science

bipolar

[bī-pō′lər]

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.