polarized

[ poh-luh-rahyzd ]

/ ˈpoʊ ləˌraɪzd /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR polarized ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of or relating to a medium that exhibits polarization.

(of an electric plug or outlet) designed so that the plug and outlet fit together in only one way.

Words nearby polarized

polariscope, polarity, polarization, polarization charge, polarize, polarized, polarized light, polarizer, polarizing angle, polarizing filter, polarizing microscope

Origin of polarized

First recorded in 1920–25; polarize + -ed²

OTHER WORDS FROM polarized

non·po·lar·ized, adjectiveun·po·lar·ized, adjective

Definition for polarized (2 of 2)

polarize

[ poh-luh-rahyz ]

/ ˈpoʊ ləˌraɪz /

verb (used with object), po·lar·ized, po·lar·iz·ing.

to cause polarization in.

to divide into sharply opposing factions, political groups, etc.: The controversy has polarized voters into proabortion and antiabortion groups.

to give polarity to.

verb (used without object), po·lar·ized, po·lar·iz·ing.

to become polarized.

Also especially British, po·lar·ise.

Origin of polarize

First recorded in 1805–15; polar + -ize

OTHER WORDS FROM polarize

po·lar·iz·a·ble, adjectivepo·lar·iz·a·bil·i·ty, nounde·po·lar·ize, verb (used with object), de·po·lar·ized, de·po·lar·iz·ing.non·po·lar·iz·a·ble, adjective

non·po·lar·iz·ing, adjectivere·po·lar·ize, verb (used with object), re·po·lar·ized, re·po·lar·iz·ing.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for polarized

This is not because of bad leaders, or polarized politics, but because of a governing structure that is fatally flawed.
Red Tape Is Strangling Good Samaritans|Philip K. Howard|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Because they get a little happily ever after that seems to have polarized fans, too.
Joan Allen on ‘The Killing’ Finale and That Mother of a Twist|Kevin Fallon|August 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
At 55, Burke is a political novice, and in a polarized electorate, that might be a winning formula.
Meet Mary Burke, the Woman Who Could Beat Scott Walker|Eleanor Clift|May 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But the failure is another measure of why this Congress is the most polarized, least productive, and least popular on record.
RIP: Obama’s Grand Bargain With the GOP on Entitlements|John Avlon|March 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In these polarized times, there are even stricter limits to what any one party can get done on its own.
Obama’s Speech Was Missing Shared Goals for America’s Future|Mark McKinnon|January 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Light reflected from a water surface is polarized at certain angles.
Astronomical Curiosities|J. Ellard Gore
Finally, the question of utility (the cui bono) may be considered in answer to the query, What is the use of polarized light?
The Boy's Playbook of Science|John Henry Pepper
It means that the activity of the lower psyche and lower body is polarized by the upper body.
Fantasia of the Unconscious|D. H. Lawrence
In our own times Melloni furnished the means of proving that it may be polarized.
History of the Intellectual Development of Europe, Volume II (of 2)|John William Draper
It gave out no light, properly so called, but a dull and sullen glow without reflection, as if all its rays were polarized.
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe|Edgar Allan Poe

British Dictionary definitions for polarized

polarize

polarise

/ (ˈpəʊləˌraɪz) /

verb

to acquire or cause to acquire polarity

to acquire or cause to acquire polarizationto polarize light

to cause people to adopt extreme opposing positionsto polarize opinion

Derived forms of polarize

polarizable or polarisable, adjective

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

Science definitions for polarized

polarize

[ pō′lə-rīz′ ]

To separate or accumulate positive and negative electric charges in two distinct regions. Polarized objects have an electric dipole moment and will undergo torque when placed in an external electric field.

To magnetize a substance so that it has the properties of a magnetic dipole, such as having a north and south pole.

To cause the electrical and magnetic fields associated with electromagnetic waves, especially light, to vibrate in a particular direction or path. The transverse electric and magnetic waves always vibrate at right angles to each other, but in ordinary unpolarized light sources, the direction of polarization of each wave is randomly distributed. Light can be polarized by reflection, and by passing through certain materials. See more at polarization.

polarized

adjective

Content related to polarized

Words related to polarized

Words nearby polarized

Origin of polarized

OTHER WORDS FROM polarized

Definition for polarized (2 of 2)

verb (used with object), po·lar·ized, po·lar·iz·ing.

verb (used without object), po·lar·ized, po·lar·iz·ing.

Origin of polarize

OTHER WORDS FROM polarize

Examples from the Web for polarized

British Dictionary definitions for polarized

polarise

verb

Derived forms of polarize

Science definitions for polarized