polar

[poh-ler] /ˈpoʊ lər/
adjective
1.
of or pertaining to the North or South Pole.
2.
of or pertaining to the pole of any sphere, a magnet, an electric cell, etc.
3.
opposite in character or action:
The two have personalities that are polar.
4.
capable of ionizing, as NaCl, HCl, or NaOH; electrolytic; heteropolar.
5.
central; pivotal:
the polar provision of the treaty.
6.
analogous to the polestar as a guide; guiding:
a polar precept.
Origin
1545-55; < Medieval Latin polāris. See pole2, -ar1
Related forms
antipolar, adjective
transpolar, adjective
Examples from the web for polar
  • The region appears heavily cratered, particularly in the north and south polar regions.
  • The winds pulls cold air toward the equator from the polar regions and bring warm air toward the poles.
  • Or there may be a sudden influx of cold polar water toward the equator.
  • It was a polar-orbiting satellite, moving steadily from south to north, that didn't appear on the heavens-above website.
  • The validity of a government biologist's study of polar bears and global warming has been questioned.
  • That's why the image of the polar bear drowning as its icebergs melt is such a good messenger for the dangers of global warming.
  • Planes in polar routes aren't climbing or descending while in polar areas.
  • The polar regions are frequently neglected in discussions of the environment, but they shouldn't be.
  • polar bears are the poster animals for wildlife threatened by climate change.
  • polar bears may be threatened, but they aren't yet doomed.
British Dictionary definitions for polar

polar

/ˈpəʊlə/
adjective
1.
situated at or near, coming from, or relating to either of the earth's poles or the area inside the Arctic or Antarctic Circles: polar regions
2.
having or relating to a pole or poles
3.
pivotal or guiding in the manner of the Pole Star
4.
directly opposite, as in tendency or character
5.
(chem)
  1. Also heteropolar. (of a molecule or compound) being or having a molecule in which there is an uneven distribution of electrons and thus a permanent dipole moment: water has polar molecules
  2. (of a crystal or substance) being or having a crystal that is bound by ionic bonds: sodium chloride forms polar crystals
Word Origin and History for polar
adj.

1550s, from Middle French polaire (16c.) or directly from Medieval Latin polaris "of or pertaining to the poles," from Latin polus "an end of an axis" (see pole (n.2)). Meaning "directly opposite in character or tendency" is attested from 1832. Polar bear first recorded 1781.

polar in Medicine

polar po·lar (pō'lər)
adj.

  1. Of or relating to a pole.

  2. Having poles. Used of certain nerve cells having one or more processes.

polar in Science
polar
  (pō'lər)   

  1. Relating to a pole, such as the pole of a magnet or one of the electrodes of an electrolytic cell.

  2. Relating to the North Pole or the South Pole of Earth, or analogous regions of another planet.

  3. Relating to a molecule or substance that has polar bonds.


Related Abbreviations for polar

POLAR

Polar Plasma Laboratory