diamagnetic

[dahy-uh-mag-net-ik]

adjective Physics.

of or relating to a class of substances, as bismuth and copper, whose permeability is less than that of a vacuum: in a magnetic field, their induced magnetism is in a direction opposite to that of iron.

Compare antiferromagnetic, ferrimagnetic, ferromagnetic, paramagnetic.

Origin of diamagnetic

First recorded in 1840–50; dia- + magnetic

Related formsdi·a·mag·net·i·cal·ly, adverbdi·a·mag·net·ism

[dahy-uh-mag-ni-tiz-uh m] /ˌdaɪ əˈmæg nɪˌtɪz əm/, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for diamagnetic

Historical Examples of diamagnetic

These rays impinge upon a diamagnetic surface which is concave.
Second Sight
Sepharial
A diamagnetic body is one which is not so magnetic as the medium in which it is suspended.
The New Gresham Encyclopedia
Various
Water is diamagnetic, sulphate of iron is strongly magnetic.
Faraday As A Discoverer
John Tyndall
Nitrogen is neither paramagnetic nor diamagnetic, and is equivalent to a vacuum.
The Boy's Playbook of Science
John Henry Pepper
Bodies that point equatorially, or are diamagnetic, like Faraday's heavy glass.
The Boy's Playbook of Science
John Henry Pepper

British Dictionary definitions for diamagnetic

diamagnetic

adjective

of, exhibiting, or concerned with diamagnetism

Derived Formsdiamagnetically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

diamagnetic in Science

diamagnetism

[dī′ə-măg′nĭ-tĭz′əm]

The property of being repelled by both poles of a magnet. Most substances commonly considered to be nonmagnetic, such as water, are actually diamagnetic. Though diamagnetism is a very weak effect compared with ferromagnetism and paramagnetism, it can be used to levitate objects. Compare ferromagnetism paramagnetism. See also Lenz's law.

Related formsdiamagnetic adjective (dī′ə-măg-nĕt′ĭk)