bipolar

American  

[bahy-poh-ler] / baɪˈpoʊ lər /

adjective

1. having two poles, as the earth.

2. of, relating to, or found at both polar regions.

3. characterized by opposite extremes, as two conflicting political philosophies.

4. Electronics. of or relating to a transistor that uses both positive and negative charge carriers.

5. Psychiatry. of, relating to, or having bipolar disorder.

   His wife is bipolar.

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bipolar British  

/ baɪˈpəʊlə /

adjective

1. having two poles

   a bipolar dynamo

   a bipolar neuron

2. relating to or found at the North and South Poles

3. having or characterized by two opposed opinions, natures, etc

4. (of a transistor) utilizing both majority and minority charge carriers

5. suffering from bipolar manic-depressive disorder

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bipolar Scientific  

/ bī-pō′lər /

1. Relating to or having two poles or charges.

2. Relating to a semiconductor device, such as a transistor, that exploits the electrical characteristics of contact between two substances, one with an inherent positive charge, the other with an inherent negative charge.

3. Relating to or involving both of the Earth's polar regions.

4. Relating to a neuron that has two processes or extremities.

5. Relating to bipolar disorder.

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Other Word Forms

• bipolarity noun
• bipolarization noun

Etymology

Origin of bipolar

First recorded in 1800–10; bi- ¹ + polar

Example Sentences

Then in January, Ye took out a full-page advert in the Wall Street Journal where he shared details about his bipolar type-1 diagnosis, which he had previously dismissed.

From BBC

These medications are prescribed to treat conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, and seizures.

From Science Daily

She was recovering from a breakdown and had been recently diagnosed with bipolar disorder.

From BBC

In a statement to Deadline, Carradine’s family said he struggled with bipolar disorder.

From Los Angeles Times

He also has bipolar disorder and, at least once a year, loses all his clients and has to go to treatment for a few weeks.

From MarketWatch