Polar

pō′lar, adj. pertaining to, or situated near, either of the poles: pertaining to the magnetic poles: having a common meeting-point.— n. ( geom. ) the line joining the points of contact, of tangents drawn to meet a curve from a point called the pole of the line.— ns.pl. Pōlar-co-or′dinates , co-ordinates defining a point by means of a radius vector and the angle which it makes with a fixed line through the origin; Pō′lar-for′ces , forces that act in pairs and in different directions, as in magnetism.— n. Polarim′eter , the polariscope.— adj. Polarī′sable , capable of polarisation.— ns. Polar isā′tion ( opt. ), a particular modification of rays of light, by the action of certain media or surfaces, so that they cannot be reflected or refracted again in certain directions: state of having polarity; Polar′iscope , an instrument for polarising light, and analysing its properties.— v.t. Pō′larise , to give polarity to.— ns. Pō′lariser , that which polarises or gives polarity to; Polar′ity , state of having two opposite poles: a condition in certain bodies according to which their properties arrange themselves so as to have opposite powers in opposite directions, as in a magnet with its two poles.— Polar bear , a large white bear found in the Arctic regions; Polar circle , a parallel of latitude encircling each of the poles at a distance of 23° 28′ from the pole—the north polar being called the arctic, the south the antarctic, circle; Polar lights , the aurora borealis or australis. [L. polar is — pol us , a pole.]