electromagnet

American  

[ih-lek-troh-mag-nit] / ɪˌlɛk troʊˈmæg nɪt /

noun

1. a device consisting of an iron or steel core that is magnetized by electric current in a coil that surrounds it.

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electromagnet British  

/ ɪˌlɛktrəʊˈmæɡnɪt /

noun

1. a magnet consisting of an iron or steel core wound with a coil of wire, through which a current is passed

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electromagnet Scientific  

/ ĭ-lĕk′trō-măg′nĭt /

1. A device consisting of a coil of insulated wire wrapped around an iron core that becomes magnetized when an electric current flows through the wire. Electromagnets are used to convert electrical control signals into mechanical movements.

2. See Note at magnetism

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electromagnet ¹ Cultural  

1. A magnet created by passing an electric current (see also current) through coils of wire. Electromagnets are widely used in common electrical systems.

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electromagnet ² Cultural  

1. A magnet created by passing an electric current (see also current) through coils of wire. Such magnets are widely used in common electrical systems.

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Etymology

Origin of electromagnet

First recorded in 1815–25; electro- + magnet

Example Sentences

Sixteen models equipped with a starter produced between July 2020 and July 2022 could be affected due the electromagnet showing excessive wear over time, BMW said in a statement.

From Barron's • Feb. 11, 2026

"Of course, UTe2 cannot be used to make leads for a superconducting electromagnet," says Helm.

From Science Daily • Jan. 31, 2024

She steals an electromagnet from the junkyard in order to snag a meteor out of the sky during a shower, for vaguely nefarious power-mad reasons.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 29, 2023

To generate the field, a standard scanner employs a large, powerful superconducting electromagnet that pushes a machine’s cost to $1.5 million or more, pricing MRI out of reach of 70% of the world’s population.

From Science Magazine • Feb. 22, 2023

The original magnet design called for using copper for the electromagnet coils and the massive transmission bus that carried electricity to the racetracks.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik