lodestone

or load·stone

[ lohd-stohn ]
/ ˈloʊdˌstoʊn /

noun

a variety of magnetite that possesses magnetic polarity and attracts iron.
a piece of this serving as a magnet.
something that attracts strongly.

Origin of lodestone

1505–15; lode (in obsolete sense “way, course”) + stone

Words nearby lodestone

Example sentences from the Web for lodestone

British Dictionary definitions for lodestone

lodestone

loadstone

/ (ˈləʊdˌstəʊn) /

noun

  1. a rock that consists of pure or nearly pure magnetite and thus is naturally magnetic
  2. a piece of such rock, which can be used as a magnet and which was formerly used as a primitive compass
a person or thing regarded as a focus of attraction

Word Origin for lodestone

C16: literally: guiding stone

Scientific definitions for lodestone

lodestone

A piece of the mineral magnetite that acts like a magnet.