polarizableadj.
/ˈpəʊlərʌɪzəbl/, U.S. /ˈpoʊləˌraɪzəb(ə)l/ Physics and Chemistry.
Able to be polarized.
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the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > electric polarization > [adjective]
polarizable1836
1836 J. D. Forbes in Trans. Royal Soc. Edinb. 13 360 The general fact that heat from sources of higher temperature is more polarizable by refraction, agrees with the corresponding case of light.
1843 Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc. 3 42 After the emanation was found to be polarizable, it was important to determine if the intensity of the action on the lime would be different.
1889 G. M. Hopkins Exper. Sci. xviii. 397 The phenomenon attributed to the polarized plate manifests itself in an unmistakable manner in polarizable batteries.
1934 Physica 1 42 The extent to which the substance is polarizable, is most often expressed in terms of ‘molecular polarization’.
1978 P. W. Atkins Physical Chem. xvii. 560 A xenon atom is more polarizable than a helium atom.
1991 New Scientist 10 Aug. 29/3 Such soft, polarisable cations prefer to coordinate with..ligands that are similarly easy to polarise.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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