I. ˈpōlə(r) adjective
Etymology: New Latin polaris, from Latin polus pole + -aris -ar — more at pole
1.
a. : of, relating to, or situated in the vicinity of one of the earth's two poles
valley glaciers in both polar and equatorial regions — Hugh Odishaw
Antarctica is the only polar continent — Antarctica
b.
(1) : of, relating to, or suggesting the region around one of the earth's two poles
polar weather
polar waste
polar night
(2) : situated in, suitable for, coming from, or having the characteristics of the region around one of the earth's two poles
polar air mass
polar flying
polar airplane
polar sea
2.
a. : of or relating to one or more physical poles (as of a sphere or magnet)
polar magnetism
b. : having poles and as a result a property analogous to that of a magnet in that there is an associated directed line connecting the two poles at the ends of which line there are equal and opposite properties
polar molecule
3. : of, relating to, or like a polestar in serving as a guide
polar principle
this polar idea provides the clue to both … systems — V.L.Parrington
4. : diametrically opposite in nature, tendency, or action
extreme and indefensible polar positions — Hunter Mead
for whom classicism and romanticism are not polar but continuous — Harry Levin
polar if not mutually hostile parties — Austin Warren
5.
a. : electrovalent
b. : having a dipole
polar compounds such as hydrogen chloride, ammonia, water
alcohols and ketones are common solvents
6. : held to resemble a pole or axis around which all else revolves : pivotal
the polar events of this informed study — Fraser Neiman
II. noun
( -s )
: the secant of a conic through the points of tangency of the two tangents that can be drawn to the conic from an external point
III. adjective
1.
a. : passing over the north and south poles of a celestial body
a satellite in a polar orbit
b. : traveling in a polar orbit
a polar satellite
2. : of, relating to, or expressed in polar coordinates
polar equations
also : of or relating to a polar coordinate system