depolarize

verb

de·​po·​lar·​ize (ˌ)dē-ˈpō-lə-ˌrīz How to pronounce depolarize (audio)
depolarized; depolarizing; depolarizes

transitive verb

1
: to cause to become partially or wholly unpolarized
2
: to prevent or remove polarization of (something, such as a particle (see particle sense 3) or dry cell)
After all, if a positive muon managed to capture one of the many electrons that are free to move about in graphite, the electron could easily depolarize (mess up the spin of) the muon so that they would not all be doing the same thing in lockstep.Leon Lederman et al.
3
physiology : to cause (a muscle or nerve cell) to undergo depolarization
In order to establish whether or not this type of capacitor discharge would depolarize the entire heart, it was tested as a cardiac defibrillator.Bernard Lown et al.

intransitive verb

physiology
: to undergo depolarization
Smooth muscle cells in small arteries depolarize and contract in response to increased intravascular pressure.Joseph E. Brayden and Mark T. Nelson
depolarizer noun
plural depolarizers

Examples of depolarize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web America needs a centrist who will depolarize the nation. WSJ, 15 Nov. 2023 So at rest, they are depolarized in general at about minus 80 millivolts or minus 75 millivolts. Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, 12 July 2023 His results have very large implications for how to depolarize an array of scientific issues-and how to communicate about controversial science in general. Chris Mooney, Discover Magazine, 14 Feb. 2011 The larger issue -- and opportunity -- is to depolarize associations of faith with one political party. John Avlon, CNN, 29 Oct. 2021 There’s two magnets that are rotating back and forth and creates an electric current, which can travel through the skull a few centimeters to the upper layers of the cortex and depolarize or activate brain activate there. BostonGlobe.com, 11 Oct. 2021 Absent a radical shift in the right’s priorities, the only way to depolarize our institutions is to win big against those who want to keep them undemocratic. Osita Nwanevu, The New Republic, 19 May 2020 Some of the drugs that can be used to depolarize cells are already approved for humans. Emily Matchar, Smithsonian, 26 May 2017 Some of the drugs that can be used to depolarize cells are already approved for humans. Emily Matchar, Smithsonian, 26 May 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'depolarize.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1814, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of depolarize was in 1814

Dictionary Entries Near depolarize

Cite this Entry

“Depolarize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/depolarize. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Medical Definition

depolarize

verb
de·​po·​lar·​ize
variants or British depolarise
depolarized or British depolarised; depolarizing or British depolarising

transitive verb

: to cause (a muscle or nerve cell) to undergo depolarization
In order to establish whether or not this type of capacitor discharge would depolarize the entire heart, it was tested as a cardiac defibrillator.Bernard Lown et al., The Journal of the American Medical Association

intransitive verb

: to undergo depolarization
Smooth muscle cells in small arteries depolarize and contract in response to increased intravascular pressure.Joseph E. Brayden and Mark T. Nelson, Science
depolarizer noun
or British depolariser
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!