polar Meaning, Definition & Usage

adjective satellite having a pair of equal and opposite charges
adjective satellite characterized by opposite extremes; completely opposed
diametrical; diametric; opposite.
- in diametric contradiction to his claims
- diametrical (or opposite) points of view
- opposite meanings
- extreme and indefensible polar positions
adjective located at or near or coming from the earth's poles
- polar diameter
- polar zone
- a polar air mass
- Antarctica is the only polar continent
adjective of or existing at or near a geographical pole or within the Arctic or Antarctic Circles
- polar regions
adjective satellite extremely cold
arctic; icy; frigid; gelid; glacial.
- an arctic climate
- a frigid day
- gelid waters of the North Atlantic
- glacial winds
- icy hands
- polar weather
adjective satellite being of crucial importance
pivotal.
- a pivotal event
- Its pivotal location has also exposed it to periodic invasions"- Henry Kissinger
- the polar events of this study
- a polar principal

Cf. F. polaire. See Pole of the earth.

Of or pertaining to one of the poles of the earth, or of a sphere; situated near, or proceeding from, one of the poles; as, polar regions; polar seas; polar winds.
Of or pertaining to the magnetic pole, or to the point to which the magnetic needle is directed.
(Geom.) Pertaining to, reckoned from, or having a common radiating point; as, polar coördinates.

(Conic Sections) The right line drawn through the two points of contact of the two tangents drawn from a given point to a given conic section. The given point is called the pole of the line. If the given point lies within the curve so that the two tangents become imaginary, there is still a real polar line which does not meet the curve, but which possesses other properties of the polar. Thus the focus and directrix are pole and polar. There are also poles and polar curves to curves of higher degree than the second, and poles and polar planes to surfaces of the second degree.