po·lar·ize

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• po|lar|ize — «POH luh ryz», verb, ized, iz|ing. –v.t. 1. to give polarity to; cause polarization in: »Some natural crystals, such as tourmaline, can polarize light. Tourmaline transmits the components that lie in one vibration direction, and holds back others …   Useful english dictionary

• ve|lar|ize — «VEE luh ryz», transitive verb, ized, iz|ing. Phonetics. to pronounce (a sound) or modify (a nonvelar sound) by giving it velar articulation. The second l in lull is often slightly velarized. –ve´lar|i|za´tion, noun …   Useful english dictionary

• so|lar|ize — «SOH luh ryz», verb, ized, iz|ing. –v.t. 1. to affect by sunlight. 2. Photography. to overexpose to light. –v.i. 1. to be affected by sunlight. 2. Photography. to be overexposed to light …   Useful english dictionary

• cir|cu|lar|ize — «SUR kyuh luh ryz», transitive verb, ized, iz|ing. 1. to send circulars to: »Minister of Health at the time of the last election, [he] circularized all hospitals about the absent voters arrangements (London Times). 2. to make circular or round.… …   Useful english dictionary

• bi|po|lar|ize — «by POH luh ryz», transitive verb, ized, iz|ing. to divide into two opposing factions: »... to bipolarize the world with competing political ideologies (Science News Letter). –bi|po´lar|i|za´tion, noun …   Useful english dictionary

• cir|cum|po|lar|ize — «SUR kuhm POH luh ryz», transitive verb, ized, iz|ing. Optics. to rotate the plane of polarization of (light). –cir´cum|po´lar|i|za´tion, noun …   Useful english dictionary

• hy|per|po|lar|ize — «HY puhr POH luh ryz», transitive verb, ized, iz|ing. to increase the polarity or polarization of: »Neurons react to an electrical current in fundamentally different ways depending on their location in the brain. Some are depolarized or excited;… …   Useful english dictionary

• par|tic|u|lar|ize — «puhr TIHK yuh luh ryz», verb, ized, iz|ing. –v.t. to mention particularly or individually; treat in detail; specify: »In his family portraits…the autobiography becomes particularized and memorable (Harper s). –v.i. to mention individuals; give… …   Useful english dictionary

• pop|u|lar|ize — «POP yuh luh ryz», transitive verb, ized, iz|ing. to make popular, especially by writing about (a subject) in a way that is understandable to most people. –pop´u|lar|iz´er, noun …   Useful english dictionary

• reg|u|lar|ize — «REHG yuh luh ryz», transitive verb, ized, iz|ing. to make regular: »Having regularized the procedure, we went on to the bars (New Yorker). –reg´u|lar|iz|er, noun …   Useful english dictionary

• re|vas|cu|lar|ize — «ree VAS kyuh luh ryz», transitive verb, ized, iz|ing. to place blood vessels in (an area of the heart or other parts of the body) to increase the blood supply: »Specialists at the meeting…estimated that as many as 60 medical centers in the world …   Useful english dictionary