magnet
[ mag-nit ]
/ ˈmæg nɪt /
noun
a body, as a piece of iron or steel, that possesses the property of attracting certain substances, as iron.
a lodestone.
a thing or person that attracts: The park was a magnet for pickpockets and muggers.
Origin of magnet
1400–50; late Middle English
magnete < Latin
magnēta < Greek
mágnēta, accusative of
mágnēs, short for (
hē)
Mágnēs (
líthos) (the stone) of Magnesia
OTHER WORDS FROM magnet
coun·ter·mag·net, nounWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH magnet
magnate magnetWords nearby magnet
Definition for magnet (2 of 2)
Example sentences from the Web for magnet
British Dictionary definitions for magnet
magnet
/ (ˈmæɡnɪt) /
noun
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
a person or thing that exerts a great attraction
Word Origin for magnet
C15: via Latin from Greek
magnēs, shortened from
ho Magnēs lithos the Magnesian stone. See
magnesia
Scientific definitions for magnet
magnet
[ măg′nĭt ]
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. See also electromagnet ferromagnetism magnetic pole. See Note at magnetism.
Cultural definitions for magnet
magnet
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.)