polar

polar

1. situated at or near, coming from, or relating to either of the earth's poles or the area inside the Arctic or Antarctic Circles

2. having or relating to a pole or poles

3. Chem

a. (of a molecule or compound) being or having a molecule in which there is an uneven distribution of electrons and thus a permanent dipole moment

b. (of a crystal or substance) being or having a crystal that is bound by ionic bonds

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

polar

(poh -ler) (polar system) See magnetic cataclysmic variables.

Collins Dictionary of Astronomy © Market House Books Ltd, 2006

polar

[′pō·lər]

(astronomy)

A member of a class of cataclysmic variable stars whose light displays strong circular polarization. Also known as AM Herculis star.

(mathematics)

For a conic section, the polar of a point is the line that passes through the points of contact of the two tangents drawn to the conic from the point.

For a quadric surface, the polar of a point is the plane that passes through the curve which is the locus of the points of contact of the tangents drawn to the surface from the point.

For a quadric surface, the polar of a line is the line of intersection of the planes which are tangent to the surface at its points of intersection with the original line.

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific & Technical Terms, 6E, Copyright © 2003 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

polar

i. An air mass with characteristics developed over high latitudes, especially within subpolar highs. Continental and maritime are two types of polar air masses. See polar air mass.
ii. The parameters plotted on polar coordinates. See polar coordinates.

An Illustrated Dictionary of Aviation Copyright © 2005 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved