Depolarises

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To cause a cell membrane or electrical system to lose its polarity by reversing or nullifying its charge difference ; to alter a molecule or object so it becomes less polarized or electrically imbalanced ; to disrupt the normal polarized pattern in a physical or chemical context
2. To induce a change wherein a previously polarized cell or object undergoes a reduction or inversion of electrical charge across its surface ; to chemically or physically modify a substance so that its separation of charges diminishes ; to interrupt or reverse the normal alignment of poles in an electrical or molecular setting
3. To bring about the loss or reversal of electrical polarity in biological cells or circuits ; to modify the electric or molecular structure of a material so that its polar characteristics are lessened or reversed ; to upset the typical polarized state found in cells, devices, or molecules by neutralizing charges

Etymology: "Depolarises" is the third-person singular present form of "depolarise," so the story belongs to the verb itself. That verb is formed from "de-," a prefix meaning "removal" or "reversal," attached to "polarise." The base word goes back to "polar," which describes the poles of a magnet or of the Earth, and "polarise" carries the idea of giving something a definite direction or axis, as in light waves oriented in one plane. Putting the two together gives a plain sense: to undo that organised alignment. In physics and chemistry, the verb is used for the removal of a charge or orientation, such as when a battery electrode or a cell membrane loses the separation of positive and negative charge that made it polarised. The prefix does the work here: "de-" reverses the state that "polarise" describes, so "depolarise" means to take the polarity away.

Synonyms: depolarizes

Antonyms: polarises, polarizes