polarisation
gb/pˈoʊlɚɪsˈeɪʃən/ us/pˈoʊlɚɪsˈeɪʃən/
C1
English
polarizáció, elektromos polarizáció
NOUN
C1
1
polarizáció
C1
Usage pattern:
polarisation between [groups]; polarisation over/on [an issue]; [adjective] polarisation
Political polarisation has made compromise in parliament much harder.
A politikai polarizáció sokkal nehezebbé tette a kompromisszumot a parlamentben.
Social media can intensify polarisation by showing people only views they already agree with.
A közösségi média fokozhatja a polarizációt azzal, hogy csak olyan nézeteket mutat az embereknek, amelyekkel már eleve egyetértenek.
The debate revealed a deep polarisation between younger and older voters.
Learner examples
The election increased polarisation in the country.
A választás növelte a polarizációt az országban.
The mayor tried to reduce polarisation.
A polgármester megpróbálta csökkenteni a polarizációt.
Common mistake:
In British English the usual spelling is polarisation; in American English it is polarization. It is usually uncountable in this meaning.
Meaning
division into opposing sides
Collocations
political polarisation
|social polarisation
|growing polarisation
|increasing polarisation
|deep polarisation
|ideological polarisation
|public polarisation
|media polarisation
|polarisation between voters
|reduce polarisation
Synonyms
division (more general; any separation, not necessarily into strongly opposed camps)
|
split (less formal and more general)
|
partisanship (mainly political; emphasizes loyalty to one side)
Antonyms
consensus (general agreement rather than sharp opposition)
|
unity (people or groups being joined rather than divided)
|
depolarisation (the reduction or reversal of polarisation)
Themes
politics
|society
|media
|conflict
Definition
a situation in which people separate into two strongly different groups with opposite opinions
the process or condition in which people, groups, opinions, or societies become split into sharply opposing sides, especially in politics
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
2
polarizáció
C2
Usage pattern:
polarisation of [light/a wave]; [linear/circular] polarisation
The polarisation of light explains why certain sunglasses reduce glare from water.
A fény polarizációja megmagyarázza, miért csökkentik bizonyos napszemüvegek a vízről visszaverődő csillogást.
The experiment used a filter to change the polarisation of the laser beam.
A kísérletben egy szűrővel változtatták meg a lézersugár polarizációját.
A camera can detect stress in plastic by measuring changes in light polarisation.
Learner examples
The sunglasses use polarisation to reduce glare.
A napszemüveg polarizációval csökkenti a csillogást.
Common mistake:
Polarisation describes the direction of a wave's vibration, not simply the brightness of light, although polarising filters can reduce brightness.
Meaning
directional filtering of waves
Collocations
light polarisation
|polarisation of light
|linear polarisation
|circular polarisation
|polarisation filter
|polarisation angle
|plane of polarisation
|wave polarisation
|polarisation state
|polarisation direction
Synonyms
orientation (broader term for direction; less specific than polarisation)
|
wave orientation (descriptive phrase rather than the standard technical term)
Antonyms
depolarisation (loss or removal of polarisation)
|
unpolarised light (light whose vibrations are not restricted to one plane)
Themes
physics
|light
|optics
|science
Definition
in physics, the way light or another wave is made to vibrate mainly in one direction
the process or state in which the vibrations of a transverse wave, especially light, are restricted to a particular direction or plane
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
3
Usage pattern:
polarisation of [a material/electrode/cell]; dielectric polarisation; induced polarisation
Dielectric polarisation allows some materials to store electrical energy in a capacitor.
A dielektromos polarizáció lehetővé teszi, hogy egyes anyagok elektromos energiát tároljanak egy kondenzátorban.
The sensor measures induced polarisation in the rock.
Az érzékelő a kőzetben létrejövő indukált polarizációt méri.
At the electrode surface, polarisation can reduce the efficiency of the cell.
Learner examples
The material showed polarisation when an electric field was applied.
Az anyag polarizációt mutatott, amikor elektromos teret alkalmaztak rá.
Common mistake:
In science, context matters: optical polarisation concerns waves, while electric polarisation concerns charges.
Meaning
separation of electric charges
Collocations
dielectric polarisation
|electric polarisation
|electrode polarisation
|ionic polarisation
|charge polarisation
|polarisation current
|induced polarisation
|polarisation field
|polarisation vector
|membrane polarisation
Synonyms
charge separation (more descriptive and less broad)
|
electric polarity (emphasizes the resulting positive and negative poles rather than the process)
Antonyms
depolarisation (reduction or removal of electrical polarisation)
|
charge neutrality (absence of separated positive and negative charge overall)
Themes
physics
|electricity
|materials
|science
Definition
in physics or chemistry, the movement or alignment of positive and negative charges in different directions
the separation or alignment of positive and negative electric charges in a material or system, producing an electric polarity
Grammar
Dictionary form
polarisation
IPA
GB/pˈoʊlɚɪsˈeɪʃən/
US/pˈoʊlɚɪsˈeɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
po - lar - isa - tion (4 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (po)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: polarisation
- Plural: polarisation, polarisations
Expressions
affective polarisation
1/əfˈɛktɪv pˈoʊlɚɪsˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
hostility toward political opponents
when people strongly dislike or distrust the other political side
Examples
- Affective polarisation is visible when voters see the other party as not just wrong but dangerous.
- The study measured affective polarisation by asking people how warmly they felt toward supporters of each party.
Learner examples
- Affective polarisation means people dislike the other side.
job polarisation
1/d͡ʒˈɑb pˈoʊlɚɪsˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
business
loss of middle-skill jobs
when there are more jobs at the top and bottom of the pay scale, but fewer middle-level jobs
Examples
- Automation has contributed to job polarisation in many rich economies.
- Job polarisation can leave workers with fewer secure middle-income options.
Learner examples
- Job polarisation has reduced the number of middle-income jobs.
polarisation of light
1/pˈoʊlɚɪsˈeɪʃən əv lˈaɪt/
fixed phrase
technical
light waves in one plane
a physics effect in which light waves vibrate mainly in one direction
Examples
- The polarisation of light is used in 3D cinema and LCD screens.
- Bees can detect the polarisation of light in the sky and use it for navigation.
Learner examples
- We used a filter to show the polarisation of light.
political polarisation
1/pəlˈɪtɪkəl pˈoʊlɚɪsˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
political division into camps
when people or parties in politics become very divided and unwilling to agree
Examples
- Political polarisation has made it difficult for the parties to pass basic legislation.
- Researchers found rising political polarisation among voters who get most of their news online.
Learner examples
- Political polarisation is growing before the election.
social polarisation
1/sˈoʊʃəl pˈoʊlɚɪsˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
formal
society split into groups
when different groups in society become more separate and less equal or less trusting
Examples
- Rapid growth in luxury housing and homelessness has increased social polarisation in the city.
- Schools can either reduce or reinforce social polarisation.
Learner examples
- Social polarisation can make communities less trusting.