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

/ măg′nĭt /

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 electromagnetSee 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 Words From

• counter·magnet 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

Singapore established itself as a magnet for corporate guests after it entered the calendar in 2008.

From BBC

The sandlot-like multipurpose field for SOCES, a public magnet school in the San Fernando Valley, is home to its football team.

From Los Angeles Times

On Wednesday, the jury heard, aged 15, Mr Khalife used a powerful magnet to remove shop security tags and got into trouble with the police for shoplifting.

From BBC

“In my research partner's kids' school, they can lose their magnet spot if they are absent too much. My kids could be retained for missing too much school,” she explained.

From Salon

The stands consist of two triangular hardwood structures that clip together through magnets, with naturally tanned leather attachments for the guitars to rest on.

From Los Angeles Times