non-polarizing

po·lar·ize

[poh-luh-rahyz] verb, po·lar·ized, po·lar·iz·ing.
verb (used with object)
1.
to cause polarization in.
2.
to divide into sharply opposing factions, political groups, etc.: The controversy has polarized voters into proabortion and antiabortion groups.
3.
to give polarity to.
verb (used without object)
4.
to become polarized.
Also, especially British, po·lar·ise.

Origin:
1805–15; polar + -ize

Related forms
po·lar·iz·a·ble, adjective
po·lar·iz·a·bil·i·ty, noun
de·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, adjective
re·po·lar·ize, verb (used with object), re·po·lar·ized, re·po·lar·iz·ing.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To non-polarizing
00:10
Non-polarizing is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
Collins
World English Dictionary
polarize or polarise (ˈpəʊləˌraɪz) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—vb
1.  to acquire or cause to acquire polarity
2.  to acquire or cause to acquire polarization: to polarize light
3.  to cause people to adopt extreme opposing positions: to polarize opinion
 
polarise or polarise
 
—vb
 
'polarizable or polarise
 
—adj
 
'polarisable or polarise
 
—adj

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

polarize
1811, from Fr. polariser, coined by Fr. physicist Étienne-Louis Malus (1775-1812) as a term in optics. Transf. sense of "to accentuate a division in a group or system" is first recorded 1949 in Arthur Koestler.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Science Dictionary
polarize   (pō'lə-rīz')  Pronunciation Key 

  1. 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.

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

  3. 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.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Partners:WordBloglinesCitysearchThe Daily BeastAsk AnswersAsk KidsLife123SendoriHome Advisor
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
About PRIVACY POLICY Terms API Careers Advertise with Us Contact Us Suggest a Word Help
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT