Definition
adjective
(general) Of, or having one or more poles (in a spherical body); being in opposite extremes.
(chemistry) Pertaining to a compound exhibiting polarity or dipole moment, that is a compound bearing a partial positive charge on one side and a partial negative charge on the other.
(mathematics) Of a coordinate system, specifying the location of a point in a plane by using a radius and an angle.
(pathology) Characterized by having opposite ends of a spectrum of symptoms or manifestations, as in polar types of leprosy
Supplement
Sugar, such as sucrose, is an example of polar molecule. Its structure has oxygen-hydrogen (-OH) groups.
Water is also a polar molecule for having both negative and positive poles.
Word origin: from Late Latin polāris.
Related forms: polarity (noun”).
Related terms:
- polar anaemia
- polar body
- polar cell
- polar group
- polar molecule
- zinco-polar
Compare: nonpolar.
See also: polar solvents.
