Refers to a geographical or magnetic pole, or the terminal point of an axis. Common in compounds like 北極 (North Pole) and 南極 (South Pole).
The Earth's North and South Poles are covered with ice.
His anger reached its peak.
This luxury is the ultimate extreme.
extreme; extremity
utmost limit; extremity; furthest point · limit (math)
as much as possible; to the utmost; to the best of one's ability
South Pole · Antarctica; the Antarctic
extreme; maximum; utmost
the Far East
North Pole · the Arctic
electrode
far right; extreme right; ultraright
minimum; minuscule; extremely small · local minimum
bipolar; having two poles
antipodes; diametrically opposite point · opposite extreme; antithesis; polar opposite
extreme argument; going to extremes in logic
far left; extreme left; radical left
polar regions; the pole · farthest land; ends of the earth
polarity
maximum; greatest; extreme · local maximum
capital punishment; death penalty; maximum penalty
minimal amount; very small quantity
taiji; the Supreme Ultimate
culmination; acme; height; peak; ultimate; perfection; ideal
pole; climax; extreme point
both extremities; both ends · North and South Poles · positive and negative poles
extreme north; North Pole · utmost limit; breaking point
electric polarization · magnetic polarization; magnetization
aurora; northern lights; southern lights
anode; positive pole; plus terminal
cathode; negative pole; minus terminal
active; positive; proactive · anode
Standard kanji spelling for both the 'pole' and 'extreme' senses.
The kanji 極 originally depicts a beam or ridgepole, extended to mean the utmost point or extremity. The reading きょく is the on'yomi.