polar

[ poh-ler ]

adjective

1. of or relating to the North or South Pole.
2. of or relating to the pole of any sphere, a magnet, an electric cell, etc.
3. opposite in character or action:

   The two have personalities that are polar.

4. capable of ionizing, as NaCl, HCl, or NaOH; electrolytic; heteropolar.
5. central; pivotal:

   the polar provision of the treaty.

6. analogous to the polestar as a guide; guiding:

   a polar precept.

polar

/ ˈpəʊlə /

adjective

1. situated at or near, coming from, or relating to either of the earth's poles or the area inside the Arctic or Antarctic Circles

   polar regions

2. having or relating to a pole or poles
3. pivotal or guiding in the manner of the Pole Star
4. directly opposite, as in tendency or character
5. chem
   1. Alsoheteropolar (of a molecule or compound) being or having a molecule in which there is an uneven distribution of electrons and thus a permanent dipole moment

      water has polar molecules

   2. (of a crystal or substance) being or having a crystal that is bound by ionic bonds

      sodium chloride forms polar crystals

polar

/ pō′lər /

1. Relating to a pole, such as the pole of a magnet or one of the electrodes of an electrolytic cell.
2. Relating to the North Pole or the South Pole of Earth, or analogous regions of another planet.
3. Relating to a molecule or substance that has polar bonds.

Other Words From

• anti·polar adjective
• trans·polar adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of polar¹

From the Medieval Latin word polāris, dating back to 1545–55. See pole ², -ar ¹

Example Sentences

This sets off a chain reaction of events culminating in the creation of a “polar vortex” with more extreme cold, storminess and snow.

From Salon

This is just part of an area referred to by some as the Third Pole; a place which has more ice than any other part of the world outside the polar regions.

From BBC

Every other element of Christmas is also jacked: the snowmen, the polar bears and even the elves or, rather, the E.L.F.

From Los Angeles Times

Man, this is the polar opposite of that kid.

From Los Angeles Times

But they are so authentically likable, so genuinely charming, that my cynical heart melts faster than the polar ice caps in a year of record temperatures.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• freezing
• frigid
• glacial
• icy