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Definition of polarize - 4 dictionary results
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po⋅lar⋅ize

  [poh-luh-rahyz] verb, -ized, -iz⋅ing.
Use polarize in a Sentence
–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
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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po·lar·ize   (pō'lə-rīz')   
v.   po·lar·ized, po·lar·iz·ing, po·lar·iz·es

v.   tr.

  1. To induce polarization in; impart polarity to.

  2. To cause to concentrate about two conflicting or contrasting positions.

v.   intr.

  1. To acquire polarity.

  2. To cause polarization of light.

po'lar·iz'a·ble adj., po'lar·iz'er n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: po·lar·ize
Variant: also British po·lar·ise /'pO-l&-"rIz/
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: -ized also British -ised; -iz·ing also British -is·ing
transitive senses
1 : to cause (as light waves) to vibrate in adefinite pattern
2 : to give physical polarity to polarize intransitive senses
: to become polarized
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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