polarization
/ˌpoʊlərɪˈzeɪʃən/ noun
Also a form of polarisation
Forms polarizations polarisation
- noun The production or the condition of polarity.
- noun (sociology) The grouping of opinions into two extremes.
- noun (physics) The production of polarized light; the direction in which the electric field of an electromagnetic wave points.
- noun (chemistry, physics) The separation of positive and negative charges in a nucleus, atom, molecule or system.
Synonyms
Etymology
Borrowed from French polarisation. By surface analysis, polarize + -ation or polar + -ization.
Webster’s 1913
- noun The act of polarizing; the state of being polarized, or of having polarity.
- noun A peculiar affection or condition of the rays of light or heat, in consequence of which they exhibit different properties in different directions.
Etymology [Cf. F. polarisation.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “polarization”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details