Definition of "polaroid"

polaroid

noun
plural polaroids
1. A sheet of plastic embedded with microscopic crystals of herapathite or similarly acting material, so that light passing through it is polarised.
  Quotations
  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
  If there is no sample in the cell, and the second polaroid is rotated until it is at right angles to the first, the observer will see no light.
  1999, Ted Lister, Janet Renshaw, Understanding Chemistry for Advanced Level, page 234
  Polaroids are used as window screens to regulate the amount of light entering the room.
  2010, A.K. Katiyar, Narinder Kumar, Engineering Physics - I, page 357
2. (dated, in the plural) Spectacles made with lenses of polaroid, once used to view certain 3-D movies.
  Quotations
  She went to see BWANA DEVIL and, after donning the polaroids, saw correctly.
  1978, James L. Limbacher, Four Aspects of the Film, page 160
  […] I discovered my old woggle in a cardboard box, together with my Herald Learn-To-Swim certificate (25 yards without touching the bottom), a copy of the Eltham High School magazine and a pair of polaroids I pinched from a 3-D screening of Bwana Devil in 1953.
  1979, The Bulletin, volume 100, page 52
3. (in the plural) Polaroid sunglasses.
  Quotations
  One reel, loaded with a floating or intermediate line, a few braided leaders of varying sinking-rates, a few spare spools of leader-material in 6, 8 and 10lb breaking-strain, a box of assorted fly-patterns, a good pair of polaroids to stop the glare and to protect eyes, and a collapsible line-tray as the rocks are very sharp and soon ruin lines.
  1998, Gary Coxon, “13: Bass from the Lleyn Peninsula”, in Paul Morgan, editor, Saltwater Flyfishing: Britain and Northern Europe, page 86
  For while the boy continued to sport his pair of Polaroids, evidently the brilliant afternoon had broken into a drizzle: his damp cargo pants and t-shirt clung to his thin but well-muscled torso while his olive-skinned arms and face appeared as if sugar glazed.
  2009, Elisabeth Sheffield, Fort Da: A Report, page 69
  I could carry a spare pair of polaroids; however, Steve usually carries an extra pair which should be sufficient back-up for both of us.
  2011, Philip Weigall, Fishing Sense, page 203
4. A camera that develops its own film.
5. A print from such a camera.
  Quotations
  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
verb
third-person singular simple present polaroids, present participle polaroiding, simple past and past participle polaroided
1. (transitive, intransitive, informal) To photograph with a polaroid camera.