Adjacent Words

Polarize definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

PO'LARIZE, v.t. To communicate polarity to.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

v
1: cause to vibrate in a definite pattern; "polarize light waves" [syn: polarize, polarise]
2: cause to concentrate about two conflicting or contrasting positions [syn: polarize, polarise]
3: become polarized in a conflict or contrasting situation [syn: polarize, polarise]

Merriam Webster's

verb (-ized; -izing) Etymology: French polariser, from New Latin polaris polar Date: 1811 transitive verb 1. to cause (as light waves) to vibrate in a definite pattern 2. to give physical polarity to 3. to break up into opposing factions or groupings <a campaign that polarized the electorate> 4. concentrate 1 <recreate a cohesive rock community by polarizing…an amorphous, fragmented audience — Ellen Willis> intransitive verb to become polarized • polarizability noun • polarizable adjective

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. (also -ise) 1 tr. restrict the vibrations of (a transverse wave, esp. light) to one direction. 2 tr. give magnetic or electric polarity to (a substance or body). 3 tr. reduce the voltage of (an electric cell) by the action of electrolysis products. 4 tr. & intr. divide into two groups of opposing opinion etc. Derivatives: polarizable adj. polarization n. polarizer n.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Polarize Po"lar*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Polarized; p. pr. & vb. n. Polarizing.] [Cf. F. polariser.] To communicate polarity to.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(polarizes, polarizing, polarized) Note: in BRIT, also use 'polarise' If something polarizes people or if something polarizes, two separate groups are formed with opposite opinions or positions. Missile deployment did much to further polarize opinion in Britain... As the car rental industry polarizes, business will go to the bigger companies... VERB: V n, V • polarized Since Independence the electorate has been polarized equally between two parties. ADJ • polarization There is increasing polarization between the blacks and whites in the US.

Moby Thesaurus

bump heads, confront, contend, contrapose, contraposit, contrast, counteract, face, front, lie opposite, match, meet head-on, oppose, pose against, put in opposition, set over against, stand opposed, stand opposite, subtend