polar English · revision 10776

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=borrowing|attested=1551|origins=la-med polaris}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: UK /ˈpəʊ.lə/, US /ˈpoʊ.lɚ/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[bor|la-med|polāris|t=of the poles]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024) or French polaire,^(Etymonline) from Latin polus, end of an axis (see [[pole]]).^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)^(NODE 1998)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Of or near the poles of the earth or the heavens: 1551.^(Barnhart 1988)^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ The ''polar circle'' is also from 1551.^(Barnhart 1988) Pointing to the earth's poles, as a magnetic needle, is from 1692.^(OED 1989) Of a central guiding principle is from 1799,^(Barnhart 1988) and directly opposite in character, like the poles of a magnet, is first recorded in 1832.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) The poles of a battery are from 1836–41,^(OED 1989) and polar molecules in chemistry from 1913.^(OED 1989) ''Polar bear'' is from 1781,^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline) ''polar cap'' from 1894,^(Barnhart 1988) and ''polarity'' from 1646.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1551 – of the poles; polar circle.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1646 – polarity.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1692 – magnetic.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1781 – polar bear.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1832 – directly opposite.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ * 1913 – polar (chemistry).^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Of, near or coming from the North or South [[pole|alt=Pole]]: ''polar regions''.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Of or having a pole or poles, as of a magnet or battery.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Directly opposite in character or nature.^(Barnhart 1988)^(Etymonline)

+ # ''(chemistry)'' Having an uneven distribution of electric charge.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[pole]]

+ * [[polarity]]

+ * [[polarize]]

+ * [[Polaris]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}