1. The process of producing a relative displacement of positive and negative bound charges in a body by applying an electric field.

2. A vector quantity equal to the electric dipole moment per unit volume of a material. Also known as dielectric polarization; electric polarization.

3. A chemical change occurring in dry cells during use, increasing the internal resistance of the cell and shortening its useful life.

1. Phenomenon exhibited by certain electromagnetic waves and other transverse waves in which the direction of the electric field or the displacement direction of the vibrations is constant or varies in some definite way. Also known as wave polarization.

2. The direction of the electric field or the displacement vector of a wave exhibiting polarization (first definition).

3. The process of bringing about polarization (first definition) in a transverse wave.

4. Property of a collection of particles with spin, in which the majority have spin components pointing in one direction, rather than at random.