pole

[ pohl ]

/ poʊl /

noun

each of the extremities of the axis of the earth or of any spherical body.

Astronomy. celestial pole.

one of two opposite or contrasted principles or tendencies: His behavior ranges between the poles of restraint and abandon.

a point of concentration of interest, attention, etc.: The beautiful actress was the pole of everyone's curiosity.

Electricity, Magnetism. either of the two regions or parts of an electric battery, magnet, or the like, that exhibits electrical or magnetic polarity.

Cell Biology.

either end of an ideal axis in a nucleus, cell, or ovum, about which parts are more or less symmetrically arranged.
either end of a spindle-shaped figure formed in a cell during mitosis.
the place at which a cell extension or process begins, as a nerve cell axon or a flagellum.

Mathematics.

a singular point at which a given function of a complex variable can be expanded in a Laurent series beginning with a specified finite, negative power of the variable.
origin(def 6b).

Crystallography. a line perpendicular to a crystal face and passing through the crystal center.

Idioms for pole

poles apart/asunder, having widely divergent or completely opposite attitudes, interests, etc.: In education and background they were poles apart.

Origin of pole

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin polus < Greek pólos pivot, axis, pole

Words nearby pole

polarograph, polarography, polaroid, polatsk, polder, pole, pole bean, pole compass, pole dancing, pole hammer, pole horse

British Dictionary definitions for poles apart (1 of 4)

Pole ¹

/ (pəʊl) /

noun

a native, inhabitant, or citizen of Poland or a speaker of Polish

British Dictionary definitions for poles apart (2 of 4)

Pole ²

/ (pəʊl) /

noun

Reginald. 1500–58, English cardinal; last Roman Catholic archbishop of Canterbury (1556–58)

British Dictionary definitions for poles apart (3 of 4)

pole ¹

/ (pəʊl) /

noun

a long slender usually round piece of wood, metal, or other material

the piece of timber on each side of which a pair of carriage horses are hitched

another name for rod (def. 7)

horse racing, mainly US and Canadian

the inside lane of a racecourse
(as modifier)the pole position
one of a number of markers placed at intervals of one sixteenth of a mile along the side of a racecourse

nautical

any light spar
the part of a mast between the head and the attachment of the uppermost shrouds

under bare poles nautical (of a sailing vessel) with no sails set

up the pole British, Australian and NZ informal

slightly mad
mistaken; on the wrong track

verb

(tr) to strike or push with a pole

(tr)

to set out (an area of land or garden) with poles
to support (a crop, such as hops or beans) on poles

(tr) to deoxidize (a molten metal, esp copper) by stirring it with green wood

to punt (a boat)

Word Origin for pole

Old English pāl, from Latin pālus a stake, prop; see pale ²

British Dictionary definitions for poles apart (4 of 4)

pole ²

/ (pəʊl) /

noun

either of the two antipodal points where the earth's axis of rotation meets the earth's surface See also North Pole, South Pole

astronomy short for celestial pole

physics

either of the two regions at the extremities of a magnet to which the lines of force converge or from which they diverge
either of two points or regions in a piece of material, system, etc, at which there are opposite electric charges, as at the two terminals of a battery

maths an isolated singularity of an analytical function

biology

either end of the axis of a cell, spore, ovum, or similar body
either end of the spindle formed during the metaphase of mitosis and meiosis

physiol the point on a neuron from which the axon or dendrites project from the cell body

either of two mutually exclusive or opposite actions, opinions, etc

geometry the origin in a system of polar or spherical coordinates

any fixed point of reference

poles apart or poles asunder having widely divergent opinions, tastes, etc

from pole to pole throughout the entire world

Word Origin for pole

C14: from Latin polus end of an axis, from Greek polos pivot, axis, pole; related to Greek kuklos circle

Medical definitions for poles apart

pole

[ pōl ]

n.

Either of the two points at the extremities of the axis of an organ or body.

Either extremity of an axis through a sphere.

Either of two oppositely charged terminals, as in an electric cell.

Scientific definitions for poles apart

pole

[ pōl ]

Mathematics

Either of the points at which an axis that passes through the center of a sphere intersects the surface of the sphere.
The fixed point used as a reference in a system of polar coordinates. It corresponds to the origin in the Cartesian coordinate system.

Geography Either of the points at which the Earth's axis of rotation intersects the Earth's surface; the North Pole or South Pole.
Either of the two similar points on another planet.

Physics A magnetic pole.

Electricity Either of two oppositely charged terminals, such as the two electrodes of an electrolytic cell or the electric terminals of a battery.

Biology

Either of the two points at the extremities of the axis of an organ or body.
Either end of the spindle formed in a cell during mitosis.

Idioms and Phrases with poles apart (1 of 2)

poles apart

In complete opposition, as in The two brothers were poles apart in nearly all their views. This expression alludes to the two extremities of the earth's axis, the North and South poles. [Early 1900s]

Idioms and Phrases with poles apart (2 of 2)

pole

see low man on the totem pole; not touch with a ten-foot pole.

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

pole

noun

Idioms for pole

Origin of pole

Words nearby pole

British Dictionary definitions for poles apart (1 of 4)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for poles apart (2 of 4)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for poles apart (3 of 4)

noun

verb

Word Origin for pole

British Dictionary definitions for poles apart (4 of 4)

noun

Word Origin for pole

Medical definitions for poles apart

n.

Scientific definitions for poles apart

Idioms and Phrases with poles apart (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with poles apart (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

pole

noun

Idioms for pole

Origin of pole

Words nearby pole

Words related to poles apart

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noun

British Dictionary definitions for poles apart (2 of 4)

noun

British Dictionary definitions for poles apart (3 of 4)

noun

verb

Word Origin for pole

British Dictionary definitions for poles apart (4 of 4)

noun

Word Origin for pole

Medical definitions for poles apart

n.

Scientific definitions for poles apart

Idioms and Phrases with poles apart (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with poles apart (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for poles apart (1 of 4)