magnet
/ˈmaɡnɪt
/noun
1A piece of iron or other material which has its component atoms so ordered that the material exhibits properties of magnetism, such as attracting other iron-containing objects or aligning itself in an external magnetic field.Ferroelectric materials can create an electric field the way iron magnets create a magnetic field....
- Understanding more complex substances is the key to designing materials for stronger magnets in order to build more efficient and powerful electrical generators and motors.
- Iron, cobalt and nickel are the best known metallic magnets, and their magnetic properties are governed by the conduction electrons that are free to move throughout the metal.
Synonyms
lodestone, magnetite;
field magnet, bar magnet, horseshoe magnet, transverse magnet, electromagnet, electret, solenoid, diamagnet, antiferromagnet, magnetoid, wiggler
1.1A person or thing that has a powerful attraction: the beautiful stretch of white sand is a magnet for sun-worshippers...
- Mansion House was a magnet for the powerful, both native and foreign.
- The Italian city of marble and water is a magnet for art-lovers, but culture is not the only attraction.
- Over the last few years the Manx isle has become a magnet for top movie producers, who are lured by a variety of landscapes in a compact area and by the financial incentives laid on by the Isle of Man Film Commission.
Synonyms
attraction, focus, focal point, enticement, pull, crowd-pleaser, draw, lure, allurement, temptation, invitation, fascination
informal crowd-puller
1.2 archaic term for lodestone.
Origin
Late Middle English (denoting lodestone): from Latin magnes, magnet-, from Greek magnēs lithos 'lodestone', probably influenced by Anglo-Norman French magnete (from Latin magnes, magnet-).
The term magnet was originally used for a natural magnet or lodestone (see load). It comes via Latin for the Greek term for a lodestone, magnes lithos. See also electricity