n. (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. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. [ Cf. F. polaire. See Pole of the earth. ]
Polar axis,
Polar bear (Zool.),
Polar body,
Polar cell,
Polar globule
Polar circles (Astron. & Geog.),
Polar clock,
Polar coordinates.
Polar dial,
Polar distance,
Polar equation of a line
Polar equation of a surface
Polar forces (Physics),
Polar hare (Zool.),
Polar lights,
Polar opposition,
Polaric opposition
Polar contrast
Polaric contrast
Polar projection.
Polar spherical triangle (Spherics),
Polar whale (Zool.),
n. See Polyarchy. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. See Polar. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]
adv. In a polary manner; with polarity. [ R. ] Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. [ Polar + -meter. ] (Opt.) An instrument for determining the amount of polarization of light, or the proportion of polarized light, in a partially polarized ray. [ 1913 Webster ]
n. (Opt.) The art or process of measuring the polarization of light. [ 1913 Webster ]
‖n. [ NL. See Polar. ] (Astron.) The polestar. See
n. [ Polar + -scope. ] (Opt.) An instrument consisting essentially of a polarizer and an analyzer, used for polarizing light, and analyzing its properties. [ 1913 Webster ]
a. (Opt.) Of or pertaining to the polariscope; obtained by the use of a polariscope;