magnet

¹

[mag-nit]

noun

1. a body, as a piece of iron or steel, that possesses the property of attracting certain substances, as iron.

2. a lodestone.

3. a thing or person that attracts.

   The park was a magnet for pickpockets and muggers.

magnet-

²

1. variant of magneto- before some vowels.

   magneton.

magnet

/ ˈmæɡnɪt /

noun

1. a body that can attract certain substances, such as iron or steel, as a result of a magnetic field; a piece of ferromagnetic substance See also electromagnet

2. a person or thing that exerts a great attraction

magnet

1. A material or object that produces a magnetic field. Lodestones are natural magnets, though many materials, especially metals, can be made into magnets by exposing them to a magnetic field.

2. See also electromagnet ferromagnetism magnetic pole See Note at magnetism

magnet

1. An object that attracts iron and some other materials. Magnets are said to generate a magnetic field around themselves. Every magnet has two poles, called the north and south poles. Magnetic poles exert forces on each other in such a way that like poles repel and unlike poles attract each other. A compass is a small magnet that is affected by the magnetic field of the Earth in such a way that it points to a magnetic pole of the Earth. (See magnetic field and magnetism.)

Other Word Forms

• countermagnet noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of magnet¹

1400–50; late Middle English magnete < Latin magnēta < Greek mágnēta, accusative of mágnēs, short for ( hē ) Mágnēs ( líthos ) (the stone) of Magnesia

Word History and Origins

Origin of magnet¹

C15: via Latin from Greek magnēs, shortened from ho Magnēs lithos the Magnesian stone. See _magnesia

Example Sentences

They might target just rare-earth materials and rare-earth magnets, or they might hit a range of parts and components that have some rare earths inside.

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He characterized China's approach as building monopoly positions on magnets and other elements, calling it "a rather sinister and hostile move, to say the least."

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They would require foreign companies to get approval for selling magnets that contain even minimal amounts of rare earth sourced from China, or produced or refined using Chinese technology.

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China’s new restrictions would require foreign companies to get approval for selling magnets that contain even minimal amounts of rare earth sourced from China or produced or refined using Chinese technology.

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With its Golden Gate Bridge views, the beach is a magnet for wedding parties, such as one seen schlepping across an empty parking lot after a photo shoot this week.

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