- noun one of two opposite points on an axis
- noun one of the two ends of a magnet that show magnetic attraction
- noun a terminal of a battery
- Fixed point on a rotating body where its axis of rotation intersects with its surface. Poles inherently come in pairs, 90° away from the equator of the body. The celestial poles are the stationary points about which the celestial sphere appears to rotate, and are the points at which the Earth’s axis extended into space cuts the celestial sphere. The poles of the ecliptic are the points on the celestial sphere where a line drawn vertically to the ecliptic rather than to the Earth’s equator cuts the celestial sphere – the northern is in Draco and the southern in Mensa. The galactic poles, on the same principle, are the points where the axis of rotation of the galaxy meet the celestial sphere. The northern is in Coma Berenices and the southern in Sculptor.
Cars & Driving
- noun either of two points at which there are opposite electric charges (positive or negative), as at the terminals of a battery
- A long, usually round piece of wood, often a small diameter log with the bark removed, used to carry utility wires or for other purposes. A poleis often treated with preservative.
- Either of two oppositely charged terminals, as in an electric cell or battery.
- Each of the input or output contacts or terminals of a switch or relay. The term may also refer to independent sets of contacts used to open or close a circuit, each of which would be a pole.
- Each of the input or output terminals, electrodes, or lines of a component, circuit, or device. For example, the poles of a battery.
- Either of the two locations on the surface of the planet earth where the magnetic dip is 90°. At such a place, the magnetic meridians converge. In the northern hemisphere such spot is called the north magnetic pole, while that of the southern hemisphere is the south magnetic pole. The earth's magnetic poles do not coincide with its geographic poles, and the latter's position vary over time. Also called magnetic pole (1), or dip pole.
- In a magnet or magnetic body, either of the two regions where magnetic intensity is at a maximum. The magnetic lines of force converge in such areas, which are labeled north pole and south pole. If each of such regions is considered to occupy a single point in space, it could be considered to be analogous to an electric point charge. Also called magnetic pole (2).
- A point of concentration of electric charge, such as each of the two opposite charges of equal magnitude separated by a very small distance in a dipole.
- A post which serves to support suspended cables or conductors, such as those of electricity or communications.
- Either of the extremities of an axis which runs through a sphere. For example, the north geographic pole of the earth.
- The origin in a system utilizing polar coordinates.
- noun the end of a rounded organ, e.g. the end of a lobe in the cerebral hemisphere
Origin & History of “pole”
there are two separate words pole in English. Pole ‘long thin piece of wood’ (OE) comes from a pre- historic Germanic *pāl-(source also of German pfahl, Dutch paal, and Swedish påla). this was borrowed from Latin pālus ‘stake’, from which English gets pale ‘stake’. Pole ‘extremity’ (14th c.) was acquired from Latin polus, which in turn went back to Greek pólos ‘axis of a sphere’. This was a descendant of Indo-European *qwolo- ‘turn round’ (source of English wheel), and has also given English pulley. The derivative polar (16th c.) is an anglicization of the modern Latin coinage polāris.