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polar

adj. · n.
US //ˈpoʊɫɝ// UK //pˈəʊlɐ// po·lar
  1. 1 North or South Pole (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    relating to the North Pole or the South Pole.

    pertaining to the regions around the North or South Poles of the Earth.

    Example

    Polar bears live in the Arctic, where they hunt on the sea ice.

    Example

    The expedition faced extreme polar conditions, with temperatures dropping well below freezing and winds reaching gale force across the tundra.
  2. 2 completely opposite (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    completely different or opposite in every way.

    occupying opposite extremes; used to describe opinions, personalities, or positions that are diametrically opposed.

    Example

    The two brothers have polar personalities; one is shy and the other is very loud.

    Example

    The candidates presented polar visions for the country's economic future, leaving undecided voters with a stark choice between two extremes.
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  1. 3 having magnetic poles (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Science

    having a positive and a negative end, like a magnet or a battery.

    possessing or relating to magnetic or electrical poles; characterized by polarity.

    Example

    Water is a polar molecule, which helps it dissolve many different substances.

    Example

    The researcher explained how the polar nature of the solvent facilitates the separation of ions during the chemical reaction.
    • nonpolar
  2. 4 geometry line (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Formal Math

    a special line in geometry that relates to a point and a curve.

    the straight line joining the points of contact of tangents drawn from a given point to a conic section.

    Example

    The teacher asked the students to find the polar of the point with respect to the circle.

    Example

    In projective geometry, the relationship between a pole and its polar remains invariant under any non-singular linear transformation.

Origin

From Late Latin polāris, equivalent to pole + -ar.

Word family

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