Pole - Definition and Overview

The noun pole and adjective polar may refer to multiple things.

• A Pole is a member of a Slavic ethnic group from Poland.

• A pole is a long and straight stick, usually vertical or intended to be used vertically. See barber, pole vault, pole (object).
• A pole is also a unit of length, also called a rod or a perch, equal to 5.5 yards or 16.5 feet (5.029 meters in SI units).

• The geographical poles of the Earth, or other planet, are the points where its axis of rotation passes through its surface. See also: North Pole, South Pole, polar region.
• The pole of inaccessibility.
• The celestial poles are the ends of the celestial sphere.

• A magnetic pole is one end of a magnet.
• In chemistry, a polar molecule is one that has concentrations of electric charge, see polar molecule.

• In mathematics:
  • In complex analysis, a pole of a function is a certain simple type of singularity. See pole (complex analysis).
  • Polar coordinates are a way of describing the location of any point in space.

• In auto racing, the pole position is the first (i.e., fastest) pre-race qualifying position.