Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun In optics, that part of a polariscope by which light is polarized: distinguished from analyzer. Also spelled polariser.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (Physics) 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.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun physics Any device that produces polarized light

Etymologies

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Examples

  • [AS] – Yes, and the polarizer is the magnetic field?

    Albert Fert - Interview 2007

  • If so, you could do worse than to check out these so-called polarizer plates from Zeon, which promise up to ten times better contrast ratios than current LCD tech.

    Engadget 2010

  • If so, you could do worse than to check out these so-called polarizer plates from Zeon, which promise up to ten times better contrast ratios than current LCD tech.

    Medlogs - Recent stories 2010

  • He's actually a polarizer, which is completely predictable and not his fault.

    Hullabaloo digby 2010

  • In between, we place optics that can do three different things to the light: allow only linear polarized light with a particular orientation to pass (called a polarizer), rotate the orientation of linear polarized light (called a half waveplate), and convert circular polarized light to linearly polarized light (called a quarter waveplate).

    Ars Technica Chris Lee 2009

  • In the national polls, with all the fearsome talk by the Obama campaign about Senator Clinton's "high negatives" and being a "polarizer" the latest Gallup tracking poll, again as of Saturday night, April 19, shows Senator Clinton to be running dead even with Senator McCain -- actcuall plus 1% or 46%-45% -- as is Senator Obama (who is dead even at 45%-45%).

    Lanny Davis: Latest Gallup National Democratic Tracking Poll: Obama-Clinton Now in Dead Heat -- Will the Pundits and Media Analyze Why? 2008

  • So I picked up a Canon SX20 "super zoom" for something closer to a full-on SLR, but more compact, with a built-in zoom, filter holder, and filters such as polarizer and clear lens protector.

    - Lou Dawson's Backcountry Skiing Blog 2009

  • Call him Obama the "polarizer" ... as we await President Obama's address to the nation tonight He's on TV tonight?

    Latest Articles 2009

  • Third, despite his unfortunate history as the ultimate polarizer who hypocritically led the illegitimate partisan effort to impeach Bill Clinton (the bad Newt), in fact, Gingrich has also demonstrated an ability to reach across the aisle to work with Democrats and liberals on real solutions to real problems (the good Newt).

    Lanny Davis: Newt Gingrich -- Don't Count Him Out So Fast Lanny Davis 2011

  • Third, despite his unfortunate history as the ultimate polarizer who hypocritically led the illegitimate partisan effort to impeach Bill Clinton (the bad Newt), in fact, Gingrich has also demonstrated an ability to reach across the aisle to work with Democrats and liberals on real solutions to real problems (the good Newt).

    Lanny Davis: Newt Gingrich -- Don't Count Him Out So Fast Lanny Davis 2011

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