polarizedadj.
/ˈpəʊlərʌɪzd/, U.S. /ˈpoʊləˌraɪzd/ I. Scientific uses.
1.
a. Of light or other electromagnetic radiation: having vibrations restricted to a particular direction.
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the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > light > polarization > [adjective] > subjected to polarization
polarized1811
1811 Jrnl. Nat. Philos. Nov. 192 Mr. Malus is still pursuing with success his inquiries concerning polarised light.
1814 D. Brewster in Philos. Trans. (Royal Soc.) 104 199 The coloured image is..alike produced by polarised or depolarised light.
1831 D. Brewster Treat. Optics xviii. 158 These two beams..are therefore said to be polarised, or to be beams of polarised light, because they have sides or poles of different properties.
1894 G. S. Turpin Lessons Org. Chem. 103 Three isomeric forms of malic acid which differ chiefly in their action upon polarized light.
1923 H. L. Brose tr. A. J. W. Sommerfeld Atomic Struct. & Spectral Lines i. 23 Barkla discovered that primary X-rays are partially polarised, secondary X-rays are wholly polarised in certain directions.
1946 Wireless World Aug. 251/1 If the receiving aerial is horizontal it will receive nothing from a vertically polarized wave.
1986 Master Photographer Oct. 55/3 Used in conjunction with a polarising filter on the camera lens, polarised light will eliminate reflections.
2003 J. Scalzi Rough Guide to Universe xiii. 196 BL Lacs..also emit more polarized radio waves than other quasars.
b. Of glass, a lens, etc.: that polarizes light passing through it; = polarizing adj. 1.
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the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > light > polarization > [adjective]
polarizing1814
polarized1936
1936 Discovery Oct. 302/1 Polarised glass has for some time been used..in certain scientific instruments.
1955 Ann. Reg. 1954 403 More than one critic referred to 1954 as the year of the decline of 3D on account of the general discomfort of polarized spectacles.
1977 Sci. Amer. Dec. 172/2 If a motorist wants to eliminate the glare from a road surface, he can wear polarized sunglasses.
1994 S. Hawke Patrian Transgression 1 Their faces invisible behind the polarized visors of their black helmets.
2. Biology. Having a definite pole, extremity, direction, or orientation; possessing poles (pole n.2 11).
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the world > health and disease > ill health > pain > types of pain > [adjective] > other pains
vagous1710
polarized1822
the world > space > shape > curvature > curved surface > [adjective] > convex > having centre of convexity
polarized1822
1822 J. M. Good Study Med. II. 277 In one or two instances operated..there was neither a polarized pain, nor fluctuation.
1908 Science 5 June 887/1 He is favorable to their explanation by the physical properties of such a surface of separation, with its well-known power to produce partial, selective and polarized osmosis.
1962 New Phytologist 61 152 In the family as a whole polarized tissue is the predominant type.
1997 Proc. National Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 94 285/1 The choroid plexus is a polarized tissue with distinct functional faces.
2000 New Scientist 20 May 96/1 (advt.) The aim of the project is to determine the capacity of internalin and other proteins to transport payload across epithelial cell membrane barriers using confluent, polarised enterocytes in culture.
3.
a. Having electric or magnetic polarity.
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the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > magnetism > magnetic devices or materials > [adjective] > polar > having opposite properties
polarized1836
1836 J. F. Davis Chinese II. xvii. 222 The first distinct notice in Europe of the properties of the polarized needle.
1849 H. M. Noad Lect. Electr. (ed. 3) 39 He considers the first effect of an excited body upon neighbouring matter, to be the production of a polarized state of their particles, which constitutes induction.
1885 H. W. Watson & S. H. Burbury Math. Theory Electr. & Magn. I. 251 Such a system of polarised molecules as we are supposing gives rise to localised distributions with solid and superficial densities of determinate values throughout given regions.
1938 G. P. Harawell Princ. Electr. & Magn. ii. 59 In a polarized dielectric the centers of charge are separated and this does give rise to an external field.
1975 I. S. Grant & W. R. Phillips Electromagnetism ii. 52 The surfaces of a polarized dielectric carry a net charge, even though all the atoms in the dielectric remain electrically neutral.
2003 Guardian 18 Dec. (Life section) 18/5 These islands, vertically polarised magnetic domains, reduce crosstalk factors that limit drive capacities.
b. Of a relay: incorporating a permanent magnet.
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the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > electric polarization > [adjective] > using permanent magnet
polarized1876
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > electricity > electrically induced magnetism > [adjective] > having permanent magnet
polarized1876
1876 W. H. Preece & J. Sivewright Telegraphy iii. 60 A non-polarized relay..is not much used in England. The forms of relay more largely used are called polarized, because their armatures are either permanent magnets or are maintained in a magnetized condition.
1886 S. P. Thompson Electromagnet 291 It is usual to refer to those [electromagnetic] devices in which a permanent magnet comes into use as polarized mechanisms, while the ordinary electromagnets are non-polarized.
1929 Science 25 Oct. 399/1 In order to obviate the difficulties consequent upon the employment..of a long and heavy trailing cable.., a new form of polarized relay was designed.
1985 Biogr. Mem. Fellows Royal Soc. 31 281 These high-speed shutters, designed..on the principle of a polarized relay, were of extraordinary quality.
c. Physics. Of a particle or beam of particles: exhibiting an alignment of spins.
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the world > matter > physics > quantum theory > electron spin > [adjective] > exhibiting alignment of spins
polarized1929
spin-polarized1968
1929 Proc. Royal Soc. A. 124 426 Our only hope of observing the moment of a free electron is to obtain a ‘polarised’ beam, in which all the spin axes are pointing in the same direction, or at any rate more in one direction than another.
1953 Progress Nucl. Physics 3 75 It may be possible to produce polarized protons by using polarized thermal neutrons..as projectiles in an (n, p) reaction.
1975 Nature 5 June 514/1 These treatments will be of increasing value as polarised beams of deuterons and other ions become available.
1988 Nature 23 June 703/2 The new experiments are performed with polarized muons and protons, so that the orientation of the particle spins is known.
II. figurative.
4. Of a word: given a particular, restricted meaning or application. Now rare.
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the mind > language > linguistics > semantics > types of semantic change > [adjective]
polarized1859
pejorativea1888
meliorative1902
1859 O. W. Holmes Professor at Breakfast-table i, in Atlantic Monthly Jan. 87/2 The religious currency of mankind,..consists entirely of polarized words.
1951 H. Wouk Caine Mutiny (1952) v. xxxv. 418 You've deliberately substituted the word sick , which is a loose, a polarized word, for the correct.
5. Having two opposite or contrasted aspects, tendencies, etc.; characterized by division into opposing groups, principles, etc.
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the world > relative properties > relationship > contrariety or contrast > [adjective] > polarized
positive1816
polarized1920
Marmite1994
1920 D. H. Lawrence Women in Love xvi. 221 Each acknowledges the perfection of the polarised sex-circuit.
1957 New Statesman 2 Nov. 555/3 This gives the world something quite different from the polarised powers.
1962 E. Cleaver in Negro Hist. Bull. 25 131/3 An obvious and striking example of polarized thinking.
1998 Housing Agenda Mar. (Finance Agenda section) 7/3 Discussion at a recent Federation Accounting Advisory Panel meeting revealed some strong and polarised views on the proposals.
Compounds
polarized plug n. North American a two-bladed plug with one blade larger than the other, so that it can only be inserted into the socket one way round.
ΚΠ
1930 Decatur (Illinois) Herald 7 Sept. 22/1 The speaker is connected to the chassis with a convenient polarized plug with prongs arranged so as to prevent improper connection.
1999 C. Mendelson Home Comforts lxi. 722/1 Polarized plugs are another antishock safety feature that you should respect.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1811