Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
polar star
polar wandering
polarimeter
Polaris
polariscope
polarise
polarity
polarity therapy
polarize
polarizing microscope
polarography
Polaroid
polder
Pole
pole (1)
pole (2)
pole bean
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "polarize" in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

polarize

po·lar·ize [ pṓlə rz ] (past and past participle po·lar·ized, present participle po·lar·iz·ing, 3rd person present singular po·lar·iz·es)


transitive and intransitive verb 
Definition:
 
1. cause division of opinion: to make the differences between groups or ideas ever more clear-cut and extreme, hardening the opposition between them, or become ever more clear-cut and extreme in this way

2. physics acquire or make something acquire polarity: to acquire polarity, or cause something to acquire polarity

3. physics restrict vibration of light: to cause light to vibrate within particular planes, or vibrate in this way


po·lar·iz·a·ble adjective
po·lar·i·za·tion [ pləri záysh'n ] noun
po·lar·iz·er noun
Advertisement

Also on Encarta
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
Also on MSN
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
Shopping
© 2009 Microsoft