1. having multiple poles or centers of power or influence
Usage: politics; international relations
2. having more than two poles or electrical terminals
Usage: electronics; physics
3. having multiple projections extending from the cell body
Usage: biology; neuroscience

Examples

• The end of the Cold War led to a multipolar world with several major powers.
• China’s rise has contributed to a multipolar international system.
• The multipolar transistor has three or more terminals for complex switching.
• Multipolar neurons have several dendrites extending from the cell body.
• The multipolar motor requires careful wiring due to its multiple connections.
• Political scientists debate whether a multipolar world is more stable than a bipolar one.