POLARISE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does polarise mean? 

• POLARISE (verb)
  The verb POLARISE has 3 senses:

1. cause to vibrate in a definite pattern

2. cause to concentrate about two conflicting or contrasting positions

3. become polarized in a conflict or contrasting situation

  Familiarity information: POLARISE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• POLARISE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they polarise    ... he / she / it polarises   
Past simple: polarised   
Past participle: polarised   
-ing form: polarising   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cause to vibrate in a definite pattern

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

polarise; polarize

Context example:

polarize light waves

Hypernyms (to "polarise" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Domain category:

natural philosophy; physics (the science of matter and energy and their interactions)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s something

Derivation:

polarisation (the phenomenon in which waves of light or other radiation are restricted in direction of vibration)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Cause to concentrate about two conflicting or contrasting positions

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

polarise; polarize

Hypernyms (to "polarise" is one way to...):

disunite; divide; part; separate (force, take, or pull apart)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

polarisation (the condition of having or giving polarity)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Become polarized in a conflict or contrasting situation

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

polarise; polarize

Hypernyms (to "polarise" is one way to...):

divide; part; separate (come apart)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

polarisation (the condition of having or giving polarity)