polarity

noun (plural polarities)

• the property of having poles or being polar:it exhibits polarity when presented to a magnetic needle
• the relative orientation of poles; the direction of a magnetic or electric field: the magnetic field peaks in strength immediately after switching polarity [count noun]:sunspots can be classified according to their magnetic field polarities
• the state of having two opposite or contradictory tendencies, opinions, or aspects:the polarity between male and female [count noun]:the Cold War’s neat polarities can hardly be carried on
• Biology the tendency of living organisms or parts to develop with distinct anterior and posterior (or uppermost and lowermost) ends, or to grow or orientate in a particular direction: the sponge, possessing an axis of polarity, carries an incurrent siphon at one end and an excurrent siphon at the other the embryo shows polarity: it has a root pole and a shoot pole