Search the Dictionary

An instrument consisting essentially of a polarizer and an analyzer, used for polarizing light, and analyzing its properties.

Of or pertaining to the polariscope; obtained by the use of a polariscope; as, polariscopic observations.

The art or rocess of making observations with the polariscope.

Pertaining to, or exhibiting, poles; having a polar arrangement or disposition; arising from, or dependent upon, the possession of poles or polar characteristics; as, polaristic antagonism.

, as, for example, attraction and repulsion in the opposite parts of a magnet, the dissimilar phenomena corresponding to the different sides of a polarized ray of light, etc.

Susceptible of polarization.

The act of polarizing; the state of being polarized, or of having polarity.

To communicate polarity to.

That which polarizes; especially, the part of a polariscope which receives and polarizes the light. It is usually a reflecting plate, or a plate of some crystal, as tourmaline, or a doubly refracting crystal.

Tending to a pole; having a direction toward a pole. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

To lop the tops of, as trees; to poll; as, to pollard willows. Evelyn.

Composed of several or numerous carpels; -- said of such fruits as the orange.

Having more than one nucleolus.

The timber of the tulip tree; -- called also white poplar. [U.S.]

, or to the whole body of the people, as distinguished from a select portion; as, the popular voice; popular elections. "Popular states." Bacon. "So the popular vote inclines." Milton. The commonly held in popular estimation are greatest at a distance. J. H. Newman.

The people or the people's party, in ancient Rome, as opposed to the optimates.

The quality or state of being popular; especially, the state of being esteemed by, or of being in favor with, the people at large; good will or favor proceeding from the people; as, the popularity of a law, statesman, or a book. A popularity which has lasted down to our time. Macaulay.

The act of making popular, or of introducing among the people.

To make popular; to make suitable or acceptable to the common people; to make generally known; as, to popularize philosophy. "The popularizing of religious teaching." Milman.

One who popularizes.