polaroids

Noun

polaroid (plural polaroids)

1. A sheet of plastic embedded with microscopic crystals of herapathite or similarly acting material, so that light passing through it is polarized.
   • In the simplest form of this system, applicable to many microscopes, the substage polar consists only of semicircles of polaroid orientated to give respective planes of polarisation at right angles. Polaroids over the eyepieces are orientated so extinguish the inner halves of the exit pupils.1970, Journal of Entomology: General Entomology, volume 45, page 70
2. (in plural) Spectacles made with lenses of this material, once used to view certain 3-D movies, now used as sunglasses.
   • She went to see BWANA DEVIL and, after donning the polaroids, saw correctly.1978, James L. Limbacher, Four Aspects of the Film, page 160
3. A camera that develops its own film.
4. A print from such a camera.
   • Simons slides a pair of Polaroids across the table. They depict a couple of color-lit high schoolers standing in what appears to be an empty warehouse.1989 July, Michael Kaplan, “New York Story”, in American Photographer, page 31

   Synonyms:

   Pola

See all 5 meanings of polaroid