POLARIZE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does polarize mean? 

• POLARIZE (verb)
  The verb POLARIZE 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: POLARIZE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• POLARIZE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they polarize    ... he / she / it polarizes   
Past simple: polarized   
Past participle: polarized   
-ing form: polarizing   

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 "polarize" 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:

polarization (the condition of having or giving polarity)

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 "polarize" 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:

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

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 "polarize" is one way to...):

divide; part; separate (come apart)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

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

 Context examples 

In space, the light emitted by stars, gas and dust can also be polarized in various ways that depend on magnetic fields.

(Planck Takes Magnetic Fingerprint of Our Galaxy, JPL/NASA)

A mature polarized dendritic cell with potent immunostimulating activity.

(Alpha-type-1 Polarized Dendritic Cells, NCI Thesaurus)

A non-invasive pancreatic intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm characterized by the presence of neoplastic epithelial cells that form a single layer and are well polarized.

(Pancreatic Intraductal Papillary-Mucinous Neoplasm with Low Grade Dysplasia, NCI Thesaurus)

High grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia characterized by the presence of secretory cells with their nuclei polarized towards the lumen of the glands.

(High Grade Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia, Inverted Variant, NCI Thesaurus)

The inability of a substance to rotate the plane of polarized light.

(Nonrotatory, NCI Thesaurus)

A cell based cancer vaccine composed of mature polarized dendritic cells (DCs) and pulsed with apoptotic autologous tumor cells that has potential immunostimulating and antineoplatic activities.

(Apoptotic Autologous Tumor Cells-pulsed Alpha-type-1 Polarized Dendritic Cells, NCI Thesaurus)

Feelings are being polarized, explaining why there can be a dramatic difference in the relationship status of Cancers, as a whole, these days.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Gremlin relays an SHH signal from the polarizing region to the apical ectodermal ridge.

(Oncogene HST, NCI Thesaurus)

The ability of an optically active substance to rotate the plane of polarized light counterclockwise (to the left).

(Levorotatory, NCI Thesaurus)

The ability of an optically active substance to rotate the plane of polarized light clockwise (to the right).

(Dextrorototary, NCI Thesaurus)