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depolarize

play
verb de·po·lar·ize \(ˌ)dē-ˈpō-lə-ˌrīz\

Definition of depolarize

  1. transitive verb

  2. 1 :  to cause to become partially or wholly unpolarized

  3. 2 :  to prevent or remove polarization of (something, such as a dry cell or cell membrane)

depolarization

play \(ˌ)dē-ˌpō-lə-rə-ˈzā-shən\ noun

depolarizer

play \(ˌ)dē-ˈpō-lə-ˌrī-zər\ noun

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First Known Use of depolarize

1818

Medical Dictionary

depolarize

verb de·po·lar·ize
variants: or British

depolarise

\(ˈ)dē-ˈpō-lə-ˌrīz\play

Medical Definition of depolarize

depolarized

or British

depolarised

;

depolarizing

or British

depolarising

  2. transitive verb

    3. :  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, 1 Aug. l986

  4. intransitive verb

    5. :  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, 24 Apr. 1992

depolarizer

or British

depolariser

\-ˌrī-zər\play noun

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