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 ( ) Mágnēs ( líthos) (the stone) of Magnesia

OTHER WORDS FROM magnet

coun·ter·mag·net, noun

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH magnet

magnate magnet

Definition for magnet (2 of 2)

magnet-

variant of magneto- before some vowels: magneton.

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
[ măgnĭt ]

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.)