unipolar

[ yoo-nuh-poh-ler ]

adjective

1. Also Physics. having or pertaining to a single magnetic or electric pole.
2. Anatomy. of or relating to a nerve cell in spinal and cranial ganglia in which the incoming and outgoing processes fuse outside the cell body.

unipolar

/ ˌjuːnɪpəʊˈlærɪtɪ; ˌjuːnɪˈpəʊlə /

adjective

1. of, concerned with, or having a single magnetic or electric pole
2. (of a nerve cell) having a single process
3. (of a transistor) utilizing charge carriers of one polarity only, as in a field-effect transistor
4. (of nervous depression) occurring without accompanying bouts of mania
5. dominated by one superpower, esp the United States See bipolar

Derived Forms

• unipolarity, noun

Other Words From

• u·ni·po·lar·i·ty [yoo-n, uh, -poh-, lar, -i-tee, -p, uh, -], noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of unipolar¹

First recorded in 1805–15; uni- + polar

Example Sentences

But the idea that the United States must maintain its hegemonic status in a unipolar world—on the right, that has staying power.

From The Daily Beast

In our post-unipolar moment, such a reassessment is long overdue.

From The Daily Beast

No more unipolar world, no more patronizing lectures from the Americans.

From The Daily Beast

The “unipolar moment” that might have described America when the Berlin Wall fell down is long over.

From The Daily Beast

But unipolar symmetry with diverging outgrowths leads us to the next category which may be called radial symmetry.

From Project Gutenberg

When the blastula is oval and free-swimming the inner mass is formed by unipolar immigration from the hinder pole.

From Project Gutenberg

If the connexion is only with one, the vesicle is called unipolar; if with two, bipolar; if with many, multipolar or stellate.

From Project Gutenberg

Unipolar spots are very seldom observed without some indication of the characteristics of bipolar groups.

From Project Gutenberg

The bipolar spot seems to be the dominant type, and the unipolar type a variant of it.

From Project Gutenberg