Webster's Unabridged Dictionary - Letter P - Page 86
Pointel (n.) See Pointal.
Compare: Pointal
Pointal () (Bot.) The pistil of a plant.
Pointal () A kind of pencil or style used with the tablets of the Middle Ages. "A pair of tablets [i. e., tablets] . . . and a pointel." -- Chaucer.
Pointal () (Arch.) See Poyntel. [Obs. or R.]
Poyntel (n.) (Arch.) Paving or flooring made of small squares or lozenges set diagonally. [Formerly written pointal.]
Pointel (n.) A tool used by an engraver [syn: graver, graving tool, pointel, pointrel].
Pointer (n.) One who, or that which, points. Specifically:
Pointer (n.) The hand of a timepiece.
Pointer (n.) (Zool.) One of a breed of dogs trained to stop at scent of game, and with the nose point it out to sportsmen.
Pointer (n.) pl. (Astron.) The two stars (Merak and Dubhe) in the Great Bear, the line between which points nearly in the direction of the north star.
Pointer (n.) pl. (Naut.) Diagonal braces sometimes fixed across the hold.
Pointer (n.) A mark to indicate a direction or relation [syn: arrow, pointer].
Pointer (n.) An indicator as on a dial.
Pointer (n.) (Computer science) indicator consisting of a movable spot of light (an icon) on a visual display; moving it allows the user to point to commands or screen positions [syn: cursor, pointer].
Pointer (n.) A strong slender smooth-haired dog of Spanish origin having a white coat with brown or black patches; scents out and points to game [syn: pointer, Spanish pointer].
Pointer
Reference, () An address, from the point of view of a programming language. A pointer may be typed, with its type indicating the type of data to which it points.
The terms "pointer" and "reference" are generally interchangeable although particular programming languages often differentiate these two in subtle ways. For example, Perl always calls them references, never pointers. Conversely, in C, "pointer" is used, although "a reference" is often used to denote the concept that a pointer implements.
Anthony Hoare once said:
Pointers are like jumps, leading wildly from one part of the data structure to another. Their introduction into high-level languages has been a step backward from which we may never recover.
Pointer
Reference, () (Or "mouse pointer") An icon, usually a small arrow, that moves on the screen in response to movement of a pointing device, typically a mouse. The pointer shows the user which object on the screen will be selected etc. when a mouse button is clicked. (1999-07-07)
Pointing (n.) The act of sharpening.
Pointing (n.) The act of designating, as a position or direction, by means of something pointed, as a finger or a rod.
Pointing (n.) The act or art of punctuating; punctuation.
Pointing (n.) The act of filling and finishing the joints in masonry with mortar, cement, etc.; also, the material so used.
Pointing (n.) The rubbing off of the point of the wheat grain in the first process of high milling.
Pointing (n.) (Sculpt.) The act or process of measuring, at the various distances from the surface of a block of marble, the surface of a future piece of statuary; also, a process used in cutting the statue from the artist's model.
Pointingstock (n.) An object of ridicule or scorn; a laughingstock. -- Shak.
Pointless (a.) Having no point; blunt; wanting keenness; obtuse; as, a pointless sword; a pointless remark.
Syn: Blunt; obtuse, dull; stupid.
Pointless (a.) Not having a point especially a sharp point; "my pencils are all pointless" [syn: pointless, unpointed] [ant: pointed].
Pointless (a.) Serving no useful purpose; having no excuse for being; "otiose lines in a play"; "advice is wasted words"; "a pointless remark"; "a life essentially purposeless"; "senseless violence" [syn: otiose, pointless, purposeless, senseless, superfluous, wasted].
Pointlessly (adv.) Without point.
Pointlessly (adv.) In a pointless manner; "he spent his life in pointlessly tiresome drudgery."
Pointleted (a.) (Bot.) Having a small, distinct point; apiculate. -- Henslow.
Pointrel (n.) A graving tool. -- Knight.
Pointrel (n.) A tool used by an engraver [syn: graver, graving tool, pointel, pointrel].
-men (n. pl. ) of Pointsman.
Pointsman (n.) A man who has charge of railroad points or switches. [Eng.]
Pointsman (n.) A policeman stationed at an intersection to direct traffic.
Poise (n.) 平衡，均衡，姿勢，鎮靜，安靜，砝碼 Weight; gravity; that which causes a body to descend; heaviness.
Poise (n.) The weight, or mass of metal, used in weighing, to balance the substance weighed.
Poise (n.) The state of being balanced by equal weight or power; equipoise; balance; equilibrium; rest.
Poise (n.) That which causes a balance; a counterweight.
Men of unbounded imagination often want the poise of judgment. -- Dryden.
Poise (n.) A dignified and self-confident manner; graceful composure and tact in handling difficult social situations.
Poise (v. i.) 平衡 To hang in equilibrium; to be balanced or suspended; hence, to be in suspense or doubt.
The slender, graceful spars Poise aloft in air. -- Longfellow.
Poised (imp. & p. p.) of Poise.
Poising (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Poise.
Poise (v. t.) 使平衡，使懸著，保持…姿勢 To balance; to make of equal weight; as, to poise the scales of a balance.
Poise (v. t.) To hold or place in equilibrium or equiponderance.
Nor yet was earth suspended in the sky; Nor poised, did on her own foundation lie. -- Dryden.
Poise (v. t.) To counterpoise; to counterbalance.
One scale of reason to poise another of sensuality. -- Shak.
To poise with solid sense a sprightly wit. -- Dryden.
Poise (v. t.) To ascertain, as by the balance; to weigh.
He can not sincerely consider the strength, poise the weight, and discern the evidence. -- South.
Poise (v. t.) To weigh (down); to oppress. [Obs.]
Lest leaden slumber peise me down to-morrow. -- Shak.
Poise (n.) A cgs unit of dynamic viscosity equal to one dyne-second per square centimeter; the viscosity of a fluid in which a force of one dyne per square centimeter maintains a velocity of 1 centimeter per second.
Poise (n.) A state of being balanced in a stable equilibrium.
Poise (n.) Great coolness and composure under strain; "keep your cool" [syn: aplomb, assuredness, cool, poise, sang-froid].
Poise (v.) Be motionless, in suspension; "The bird poised for a few moments before it attacked."
Poise (v.) Prepare (oneself) for something unpleasant or difficult [syn: brace, poise].
Poise (v.) Cause to be balanced or suspended.
Poise (v.) Hold or carry in equilibrium [syn: poise, balance].
Compare: Balanced
Balanced (a.) Being in a state of proper balance or equilibrium; -- opposite of unbalanced. the carefully balanced seesaw a properly balanced symphony orchestra a balanced assessment of intellectual and cultural history a balanced blend of whiskeys the educated man shows a balanced development of all his powers [Narrower terms: counterbalanced, counter-balanced, counterpoised; well-balanced; poised] [Related terms: stable --- (maintaining equilibrium)].
Poised (a.) Marked by balance or equilibrium and readiness for action; "a gull in poised flight"; "George's poised hammer."
Poised (a.) In full control of your faculties; "the witness remained collected throughout the cross-examination"; "perfectly poised and sure of himself"; "more self-contained and more dependable than many of the early frontiersmen"; "strong and self-possessed in the face of trouble" [syn: collected, equanimous, poised, self-collected, self-contained, self-possessed].
Poised (a.) (Waiting) [ After verb ] 平衡的；作好準備的，擺好姿勢的 If an object or a part of your body is poised, it is completely still but ready to move at any moment.
// My pencil was poised over the page, ready to take down her words.
Poised (a.) (Waiting) [ After verb ] 準備就緒的 Ready to do a particular thing at any moment.
// [ + to infinitive ] The company is poised to launch its new advertising campaign.
// The military forces are poised for attack.
Poised (a.) (Controlled) 沉著的，泰然自若的 Approving showing very calm and controlled behaviour.
Poiser (n.) (Zool.) The balancer of dipterous insects.
Poison (n.) Any agent which, when introduced into the animal organism, is capable of producing a morbid, noxious, or deadly effect upon it; as, morphine is a deadly poison; the poison of pestilential diseases.
Poison (n.) That which taints or destroys moral purity or health; as, the poison of evil example; the poison of sin.
Poison ash. (Bot.) Amyris ({Amyris balsamifera"> (a) A tree of the genus Amyris ({Amyris balsamifera) found in the West Indies, from the trunk of which a black liquor distills, supposed to have poisonous qualities.
Poison ash. (Bot.) (b) The poison sumac ({Rhus venenata). [U. S.]
Poison dogwood (Bot.), Poison sumac.
Poison fang (Zool.), One of the superior maxillary teeth of some species of serpents, which, besides having the cavity for the pulp, is either perforated or grooved by a longitudinal canal, at the lower end of which the duct of the poison gland terminates. See Illust. under Fang.
Poison gland (Biol.), A gland, in animals or plants, which secretes an acrid or venomous matter, that is conveyed along an organ capable of inflicting a wound.
Poison hemlock (Bot.), A poisonous umbelliferous plant ({Conium maculatum). See Hemlock.
Poison ivy (Bot.), A poisonous climbing plant (formerly Rhus Toxicodendron, or Rhus radicans, now classified as Toxicodendron radicans) of North America. It is common as a climbing vine, especially found on tree trunks, or walls, or as a low, spreading vine or as a shrub. As a low vine it grows well in lightly shaded areas, recognizable by growing in clusters of three leaves. Its leaves are trifoliate, rhombic-ovate, and variously notched. Its form varies slightly from location to location, leading to some speculation that it may consist of more than one species. Many people are poisoned by it, though some appear resistant to its effects.
Touching the leaves may leave a residue of an oil on the skin, and if not washed off quickly, sensitive areas of skin become reddened and develop multiple small blisters, lasting for several days to several weeks, and causing a persistent itch. The toxic reaction is due to an oil, present in all parts of the plant except the pollen, called urushiol, the active component of which is the compound pentadecylacatechol. See Poison sumac. It is related to poison oak, and is also called mercury.
Poison nut. (Bot.) (a) Nux vomica.
Poison nut. (Bot.) (b) The tree which yields this seed ({Strychnos Nuxvomica). It is found on the Malabar and Coromandel coasts.
Poison oak (Bot.), A dermatitis-producing plant often lumped together with the poison ivy ({Toxicodendron radicans) in common terminology, but more properly distinguished as the more shrubby Toxicodendron quercifolium (syn. Toxicodendron diversilobum), common in California and Oregon. Opinion varies as to whether the poison oak and poison ivy are only variants of a single species. See poison ivy, above.
Poison sac. (Zool.) Same as Poison gland, above. See Illust. under Fang.
Poison sumac (Bot.), A poisonous shrub formerly considered Rhus ({Rhus venenata"> to be of the genus Rhus ({Rhus venenata), but now classified as Toxicodendron vernix; -- also called poison ash, poison dogwood, and poison elder. It has pinnate leaves on graceful and slender common petioles, and usually grows in swampy places. Both this plant and the poison ivy ({Toxicodendron radicans, formerly Rhus Toxicodendron) have clusters of smooth greenish white berries, while the red-fruited species of this genus are harmless. The tree ({Rhus vernicifera) which yields the celebrated Japan lacquer is almost identical with the poison sumac, and is also very poisonous. The juice of the poison sumac also forms a lacquer similar to that of Japan.
Syn: Venom; virus; bane; pest; malignity.
Usage: Poison, Venom. Poison usually denotes something received into the system by the mouth, breath, etc.
Venom is something discharged from animals and received by means of a wound, as by the bite or sting of serpents, scorpions, etc. Hence, venom specifically implies some malignity of nature or purpose.
Poisoned (imp. & p. p.) of Poison.
Poisoning (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Poison.
Poison (v. t.) To put poison upon or into; to infect with poison; as, to poison an arrow; to poison food or drink. "The ingredients of our poisoned chalice." -- Shak.
Poison (v. t.) To injure or kill by poison; to administer poison to.
If you poison us, do we not die ? -- Shak.
Poison (v. t.) To taint; to corrupt; to vitiate; as, vice poisons happiness; slander poisoned his mind.
Whispering tongues can poison truth. -- Coleridge.
Poison (v. i.) To act as, or convey, a poison.
Tooth that poisons if it bite. -- Shak.
Poison (n.) Any substance that causes injury or illness or death of a living organism [syn: poison, toxicant, poisonous substance].
Poison (n.) Anything that harms or destroys; "the poison of fascism."
Poison (v.) Spoil as if by poison; "poison someone's mind"; "poison the atmosphere in the office."
Poison (v.) Kill with poison; "She poisoned her husband."
Poison (v.) Add poison to; "Her husband poisoned her drink in order to kill her" [syn: poison, envenom].
Poison (v.) Kill by its poison; "This mushrooms can poison."
Poison (v.) Administer poison to; "She poisoned her husband but he did not die."
Poison, () Heb. hemah, "heat," the poison of certain venomous reptiles (Deut. 32:24, 33; Job 6:4; Ps. 58:4), causing inflammation.
Poison, () Heb. rosh, "a head," a poisonous plant (Deut. 29:18), growing luxuriantly (Hos. 10:4), of a bitter taste (Ps. 69:21; Lam. 3:5), and coupled with wormwood; probably the poppy. This word is rendered "gall", q.v., (Deut. 29:18; 32:33; Ps. 69:21; Jer. 8:14, etc.), "hemlock" (Hos. 10:4; Amos 6:12), and "poison" (Job 20:16), "the poison of asps," showing that the _rosh_ was not exclusively a vegetable poison.
Poison, () In Rom. 3:13 (comp. Job 20:16; Ps. 140:3), James 3:8, as the rendering of the Greek ios.
Poison, () crim. law. Those substances which, when applied to the organs of the body, are capable of altering or destroying, in a majority of cases, some or all of the functions necessary to life, are called poisons. 3 Fodere, Traite de Med. Leg. 449; Guy, Med. Jur. 520.
Poison, () When administered with a felonious intent of committing, murder, if. death ensues, it is murder the most detestable, because it can of all others, be least prevented by manhood or forethought. It is a deliberate act necessarily implying malice. 1 Russ. Cr. 429. For the signs which indicate poisoning, vide 2 Beck's Med. Jurisp. ch. 16, p. 236, et seq.; Cooper's Med. Jurisp. 47; Ryan's Med. Jurisp. ch. 15, p. 202, et seq.; Traill, Med. Jur. 109.
Poisonable (a.) Capable of poisoning; poisonous. [Obs.] "Poisonable heresies." -- Tooker.
Poisonable (a.) Capable of being poisoned.
Poisoner (n.) One who poisons. -- Shak.
Poisoner (n.) Someone who kills with poison.
Poisonous (a.) Having the qualities or effects of poison; venomous; baneful; corrupting; noxious. -- Shak. -- Poi"son*ous*ly, adv. -- Poi"son*ous*ness, n.
Poisonous (a.) Having the qualities or effects of a poison [syn: poisonous, toxicant].
Poisonous (a.) Not safe to eat.
Poisonous (a.) Marked by deep ill will; deliberately harmful; "poisonous hate"; "venomous criticism"; "vicious gossip" [syn: poisonous, venomous, vicious].
Poisonsome (a.) Poisonous. [Obs.] Holland.
Poisure (n.) Weight. [Obs.]
Poitrel (n.) (Anc. Armor) The breastplate of the armor of a
horse. See Peytrel. [Obs.] -- Chaucer.
Poize (n.) See Poise. [Obs.]
Pokal (n.) [G.] A tall drinking cup.
Poked (imp. & p. p.) of Poke.
Poking (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Poke.
Poke (v. t.) To thrust or push against or into with anything pointed; hence, to stir up; to excite; as, to poke a fire.
He poked John, and said "Sleepest thou ?" -- Chaucer.
Poke (v. t.) To thrust with the horns; to gore.
Poke (v. t.) To put a poke on; as, to poke an ox. [Colloq. U. S.]
To poke fun, To excite fun; to joke; to jest. [Colloq.]
To poke fun at, To make a butt of; to ridicule. [Colloq.]
Poke (n.) (Bot.) A large North American herb of the genus Phytolacca ({Phytolacca decandra), bearing dark purple juicy berries; -- called also garget, pigeon berry, pocan, and pokeweed. The root and berries have emetic and purgative properties, and are used in medicine. The young shoots are sometimes eaten as a substitute for asparagus, and the berries are said to be used in Europe to color wine.
Poke (n.) A bag; a sack; a pocket. "He drew a dial from his poke." -- Shak.
They wallowed as pigs in a poke. -- Chaucer.
Poke (n.) A long, wide sleeve; -- called also poke sleeve.
To boy a pig a poke (that is, in a bag), to buy a thing without knowledge or examination of it. -- Camden.
Poke (v. i.) To search; to feel one's way, as in the dark; to grope; as, to poke about.
A man must have poked into Latin and Greek. -- Prior.
Poke (n.) The act of poking; a thrust; a jog; as, a poke in the ribs. -- Ld. Lytton.
Poke (n.) A lazy person; a dawdler; also, a stupid or uninteresting person. [Slang, U.S.] -- Bartlett.
Poke (n.) A contrivance to prevent an animal from leaping or breaking through fences. It consists of a yoke with a pole inserted, pointed forward. [U.S.]
Poke bonnet, A bonnet with a straight, projecting front.
Poke (n.) Tall coarse perennial American herb having small white flowers followed by blackish-red berries on long drooping racemes; young fleshy stems are edible; berries and root are poisonous [syn: poke, pigeon berry, garget, scoke, Phytolacca americana].
Poke (n.) Someone who takes more time than necessary; someone who lags behind [syn: dawdler, drone, laggard, lagger, trailer, poke].
Poke (n.) A bag made of paper or plastic for holding customer's purchases [syn: sack, poke, paper bag, carrier bag].
Poke (n.) A sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow); "he warned me with a jab with his finger"; "he made a thrusting motion with his fist" [syn: jab, jabbing, poke, poking, thrust, thrusting].
Poke (n.) (Boxing) A blow with the fist; "I gave him a clout on his nose" [syn: punch, clout, poke, lick, biff, slug].
Poke (v.) Poke or thrust abruptly; "he jabbed his finger into her ribs" [syn: jab, prod, stab, poke, dig].
Poke (v.) Search or inquire in a meddlesome way; "This guy is always nosing around the office" [syn: intrude, horn in, pry, nose, poke].
Poke (v.) Stir by poking; "poke the embers in the fireplace."
Poke (v.) Hit hard with the hand, fist, or some heavy instrument; "the salesman pounded the door knocker"; "a bible-thumping Southern Baptist" [syn: thump, pound, poke].
Poke (v.) Make a hole by poking.
Poke (n., v. t.) See peek.
Poke, () The BASIC command to write a value to an absolute address.
See peek. [{Jargon File] (1995-01-31)
Pokebag (n.) (Zool.) The European long-tailed titmouse; -- called also poke-pudding. [Prov. Eng.]
Poachard (n.) [Written also pocard, pochard.] (Zool.) (a) A common European duck ({Aythya ferina); -- called also goldhead, poker, and fresh-water widgeon, or red-headed widgeon.
Poachard (n.) (b) The American redhead, which is closely allied to the European poachard.
Red-crested poachard (Zool.), An Old World duck ({Branta rufina).
Scaup poachard, The scaup duck.
Tufted poachard, A scaup duck ({Aythya cristata"> Tufted poachard, a scaup duck ({Aythya cristata, or Fuligula cristata), native of Europe and Asia.
Poker (n.) Any imagined frightful object, especially one supposed to haunt the darkness; a bugbear. [Colloq. U. S.]
Poker (n.) One who pokes.
Poker (n.) That which pokes or is used in poking, especially a metal bar or rod used in stirring a fire of coals.
Poker (n.) A poking-stick. -- Decker.
Poker (n.) (Zool.) The poachard. Prov. Eng.]
Poker picture, A picture formed in imitation of bisterwashed drawings, by singeing the surface of wood with a heated poker or other iron. -- Fairholt.
Poker (n.) A game at cards derived from brag, and first played about 1835 in the Southwestern United States. -- Johnson's Cyc.
Note: A poker hand is played with a poker deck, composed of fifty-two cards, of thirteeen values, each card value being represented once in each of four "suits", namely spades, hearts, diamonds, and clubs. The game is played in many variations, but almost invariably the stage of decision as to who wins occurs when each player has five cards (or chooses five cards from some larger number available to him). The winner usually is the player with the highest-valued hand, but, in some variations, the winner may be the player with the lowest-valued hand. The value of a hand is ranked by hand types, representing the relationships of the cards to each other. [The hand types are ranked by the probability of receiving such a hand when dealt five cards.] Within each hand type the value is also ranked by the values of the cards. The hand types are labeled, in decreasing value: five of a kind; royal flush; straight flush; four of a kind; full house (coll. Full boat, or boat); flush; straight; three of a kind; two pairs; one pair; and, when the contending players have no hands of any of the above types, the player with the highest-valued card wins -- if there is a tie, the next-highest-valued card of the tied players determines the winner, and so on. If two players have the same type of hand, the value of the cards within each type determines the winner; thus, if two players both have three of a kind (and no other player has a higher type of hand), the player whose three matched cards have the highest card value is the winner.
Poker (n.) Fire iron consisting of a metal rod with a handle; used to stir a fire [syn: poker, stove poker, fire hook, salamander].
Poker (n.) Any of various card games in which players bet that they hold the highest-ranking hand [syn: poker, poker game].
Poker, (n.) A game said to be played with cards for some purpose to this lexicographer unknown.
Pokerish (a.) Infested by pokers; adapted to excite fear; as, a pokerish place. [Colloq. U. S.]
There is something pokerish about a deserted dwelling. -- Lowell.
Pokerish (a.) Stiff like a poker. [Colloq.]
Poket (n.) A pocket. [Obs.] -- Chaucer.
Pokeweed (n.) (Bot.) See Poke, the plant.
Pokeweed (n.) Perennial of the genus Phytolacca.
Pokey (a.) See Poky.
Pokey (a.) Wasting time [syn: dilatory, laggard, poky, pokey].
Pokey (a.) Small and remote and insignificant; "a jerkwater college"; "passed a series of poky little one-horse towns" [syn: jerkwater, one-horse, pokey, poky].
Pokey (n.) A correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence) [syn: jail, jailhouse, gaol, clink, slammer, poky, pokey].
Poking (a.) Drudging; servile. [Colloq.]
Bred to some poking profession. -- Gray.
Poking (n.) A sharp hand gesture (resembling a blow); "he warned me with a jab with his finger"; "he made a thrusting motion with his fist" [syn: jab, jabbing, poke, poking, thrust, thrusting].
Poking-stick (n.) A small stick or rod of steel, formerly used in adjusting the plaits of ruffs. -- Shak.
Poky (a.) Confined; cramped. [Prov. Eng.]
Poky (a.) Dull; tedious; uninteresting. [Colloq.]
Poky (a.) Wasting time [syn: dilatory, laggard, poky, pokey].
Poky (a.) Small and remote and insignificant; "a jerkwater college"; "passed a series of poky little one-horse towns" [syn: jerkwater, one-horse, pokey, poky].
Poky (n.) A correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence) [syn: jail, jailhouse, gaol, clink, slammer, poky, pokey].
Polacca (n.) (Naut.) A vessel with two or three masts, used in the Mediterranean. The masts are usually of one piece, and without tops, caps, or crosstrees.
Polacca (n.) (Mus.) See Polonaise.
Polack (n.) A Polander. -- Shak.
Polack (n.) A person of Polish descent.
Compare: Polacca
Polacca (n.) [Written also polacre.] (Naut.) A vessel with two or three masts, used in the Mediterranean. The masts are usually of one piece, and without tops, caps, or crosstrees.
Polacca (n.) (Mus.) See Polonaise.
Polacre (n.) Same as Polacca, 1.
Polander (n.) A native or inhabitant of Poland; a Pole.
Polar (a.) Of or pertaining to one of the poles of the earth, or of a sphere; situated near, or proceeding from, one of the poles; as, polar regions; polar seas; polar winds.
Polar (a.) Of or pertaining to the magnetic pole, or to the point to which the magnetic needle is directed.
Polar (a.) (Geom.) Pertaining to, reckoned from, or having a common radiating point; as, polar coordinates.
Polar axis, That axis of an astronomical instrument, as an equatorial, which is parallel to the earths axis.
Polar bear (Zool.), A large bear ({Ursus maritimus"> Polar bear (Zool.), a large bear ({Ursus maritimus syn. Thalarctos maritimus) inhabiting the arctic regions. It sometimes measures nearly nine feet in length and weighs 1,600 pounds. It is partially amphibious, very powerful, and the most carnivorous of all the bears. The fur is white, tinged with yellow. Called also White bear. See Bear.
Polar body, Polar cell, or Polar globule (Biol.), A minute cell which separates by karyokinesis from the ovum during its maturation. In the maturation of ordinary ova two polar bodies are formed, but in parthogenetic ova only one. The first polar body formed is usually larger than the second one, and often divides into two after its separation from the ovum. Each of the polar bodies removes maternal chromatin from the ovum to make room for the chromatin of the fertilizing spermatozoon; but their functions are not fully understood.
Polar circles (Astron. & Geog.), Two circles, each at a distance from a pole of the earth equal to the obliquity of the ecliptic, or about 23[deg] 28', the northern called the arctic circle, and the southern the antarctic circle.
Polar clock, A tube, containing a polarizing apparatus, turning on an axis parallel to that of the earth, and indicating the hour of the day on an hour circle, by being turned toward the plane of maximum polarization of the light of the sky, which is always 90[deg] from the sun.
Polar coordinates. See under 3d Coordinate.
Polar dial, A dial whose plane is parallel to a great circle passing through the poles of the earth. -- Math. Dict.
Polar distance, The angular distance of any point on a sphere from one of its poles, particularly of a heavenly body from the north pole of the heavens.
Polar equation of a line or Polar equation of a surface, An equation which expresses the relation between the polar coordinates of every point of the line or surface.
Polar forces (Physics), Forces that are developed and act in pairs, with opposite tendencies or properties in the two elements, as magnetism, electricity, etc.
Polar hare (Zool.), A large hare of Arctic America ({Lepus arcticus), which turns pure white in winter. It is probably a variety of the common European hare ({Lepus timidus).
Polar lights, The aurora borealis or australis.
Polar opposition, or Polaric opposition or Polar contrast or Polaric contrast (Logic), An opposition or contrast made by the existence of two opposite conceptions which are the extremes in a species, as white and black in colors; hence, as great an opposition or contrast as possible.
Polar projection. See under Projection.
Polar spherical triangle (Spherics), A spherical triangle whose three angular points are poles of the sides of a given triangle. See 4th Pole, 2.
Polar whale (Zool.), The right whale, or bowhead. See Whale.
Polar (n.) (Conic Sections) The right line drawn through the two points of contact of the two tangents drawn from a given point to a given conic section. The given point is called the pole of the line. If the given point lies within the curve so that the two tangents become imaginary, there is still a real polar line which does not meet the curve, but which possesses other properties of the polar. Thus the focus and directrix are pole and polar. There are also poles and polar curves to curves of higher degree than the second, and poles and polar planes to surfaces of the second degree.
Polar (a.) Having a pair of equal and opposite charges.
Polar (a.) Characterized by opposite extremes; completely opposed; "in diametric contradiction to his claims"; "diametrical (or opposite) points of view"; "opposite meanings"; "extreme and indefensible polar positions" [syn: diametric, diametrical, opposite, polar].
Polar (a.) Located at or near or coming from the earth's poles; "polar diameter"; "polar zone"; "a polar air mass"; "Antarctica is the only polar continent."
Polar (a.) Of or existing at or near a geographical pole or within the Arctic or Antarctic Circles; "polar regions" [ant: equatorial].
Polar (a.) Extremely cold; "an arctic climate"; "a frigid day"; "gelid waters of the North Atlantic"; "glacial winds"; "icy hands"; "polar weather" [syn: arctic, frigid, gelid, glacial, icy, polar].
Polar (a.) Being of crucial importance; "a pivotal event"; "Its pivotal location has also exposed it to periodic invasions" -- Henry Kissinger; "the polar events of this study"; "a polar principal" [syn: pivotal, polar].
Polarchy (n.) See Polyarchy.
Polaric (a.) See Polar. [R.]
Polarily (adv.) In a polary manner; with polarity. [R.] -- Sir T. Browne.
Polarimeter (n.) (Opt.) An instrument for determining the amount of polarization of light, or the proportion of polarized light, in a partially polarized ray.
Polarimeter (n.) An optical device used to measure the rotation of the plane of vibration of polarized light [syn: polarimeter, polariscope].
Polarimetry (n.) (Opt.) The art or process of measuring the polarization of light.
Compare: North
North (a.) Lying toward the north; situated at the north, or in a northern direction from the point of observation or reckoning; proceeding toward the north, or coming from the north.
North following. See Following, a., 2.
North pole, That point in the heavens, or on the earth, ninety degrees from the equator toward the north.
North preceding. See Following, a., 2.
North star, The star toward which the north pole of the earth very nearly points, and which accordingly seems fixed and immovable in the sky. The star [alpha] (alpha) of the Little Bear, is our present north star, being distant from the pole about 1[deg] 25', and from year to year approaching slowly nearer to it. It is called also Cynosura, polestar, and by astronomers, Polaris.
Polaris (n.) (Astron.) The polestar. See North star, under North.
Polaris (n.) The brightest star in Ursa Minor; at the end of the handle of the Little Dipper; the northern axis of the earth points toward it [syn: Polaris, North Star, pole star, polar star, polestar].
Polariscope (n.) (Opt.) An instrument consisting essentially of a polarizer and an analyzer, used for polarizing light, and analyzing its properties.
Polariscope (n.) An optical device used to measure the rotation of the plane of vibration of polarized light [syn: polarimeter, polariscope].
Polariscopic (a.) (Opt.) Of or pertaining to the polariscope; obtained by the use of a polariscope; as, polariscopic observations.
Polariscopy (n.) (Opt.) The art or rocess of making observations with the polariscope.
Polaristic (a.) 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.
Polarity (n.) (Physics) That quality or condition of a body in virtue of which it exhibits opposite, or contrasted, properties or powers, in opposite, or contrasted, parts or directions; or a condition giving rise to a contrast of properties corresponding to a contrast of positions, 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.
Polarity (n.) (Geom.) A property of the conic sections by virtue of which a given point determines a corresponding right line and a given right line determines a corresponding point. See Polar, n.
Polarity (n.) A relation between two opposite attributes or tendencies; "he viewed it as a balanced polarity between good and evil" [syn: mutual opposition, polarity].
Polarity (n.) Having an indicated pole (as the distinction between positive and negative electric charges); "he got the polarity of the battery reversed"; "charges of opposite sign" [syn: polarity, sign].
Polarizable (a.) Susceptible of polarization.
Polarization (n.) The act of polarizing; the state of being polarized, or of having polarity.