counterpole
|count-er-pole|
🇺🇸
/ˈkaʊn.tɚ.poʊl/
🇬🇧
/ˈkaʊn.tə.pəʊl/
opposing pole / counterbalance
Etymology
'counterpole' originates from Modern English, specifically the compound of 'counter' + 'pole', where 'counter' comes from Old French 'contre' (from Latin 'contra') meaning 'against' and 'pole' comes from Greek 'polos'/'polus' (via Latin) meaning 'axis' or 'end'.
'counter' developed from Old French 'contre' (Latin 'contra') meaning 'against', while 'pole' derives from Greek 'polos' via Latin 'polus' meaning 'axis, end'; the two elements were combined in Modern English to form the compound 'counterpole'.
Initially formed to mean 'a pole that stands against or opposite another', the term has retained this core sense of opposition or counterbalance in specialized technical uses.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an opposing pole; the pole opposite another in a magnetic or electrical system (the pole that counters or balances the other pole).
The north pole of the magnet acted as the counterpole to the south pole of the other magnet.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/15 06:59