Magnet

Magnet, mag′net, n. the lodestone, an iron ore which attracts iron, and, when hung so that it can move freely, points to the poles: a bar or piece of steel to which the properties of the lodestone have been imparted.—adjs. Magnet′ic, -al, pertaining to the magnet: having the properties of the magnet: attractive.—adv. Magnet′ically.—ns. Magnetic′ian, Mag′netist, one versed in magnetism.—adj. Magnetis′able.—n. Magnetisā′tion.—v.t. Mag′netise, to render magnetic: to attract as if by a magnet.—v.i. to become magnetic.—ns. Mag′netiser, one who, or that which, imparts magnetism; Mag′netism, the cause of the attractive power of the magnet: attraction: the science which treats of the properties of the magnet—(Animal magnetism, Mesmer's name for the phenomena of mesmerism; Terrestrial magnetism, the magnetic properties possessed by the earth as a whole); Mag′netist, one skilled in magnetism.—adjs. Mag′neto-elec′tric, -al, pertaining to magneto-electricity.—ns. Mag′neto-electric′ity, electricity produced by the action of magnets: the science which treats of electricity produced by magnetism; Bar′-mag′net, a magnet in the form of a bar.—Magnetic battery, several magnets placed with their like poles together, so as to act with great force; Magnetic curves, the curves formed by iron-filings around the poles of a magnet; Magnetic equator, the line round the earth where the magnetic needle remains horizontal; Magnetic field, the space over which magnetic force is felt; Magnetic fluid, a hypothetical fluid assumed to explain the phenomena of magnetism; Magnetic meridian, the meridian lying in the direction in which the magnetic needle points; Magnetic needle, the light bar in the mariner's compass which, because it is magnetised, points always to the north; Magnetic north, that point of the horizon which is indicated by the direction of the magnetic needle; Magnetic poles, two nearly opposite points on the earth's surface, where the dip of the needle is 90°; Magnetic storm, a disturbance in the magnetism of the earth or air, which causes the magnetic needle to move rapidly backwards and forwards.—Artificial magnet, a magnet made by rubbing with other magnets; Horse-shoe magnet, a magnet bent like a horse-shoe; Permanent magnet, a magnet that keeps its magnetism after the force which magnetised it has been removed. [Through O. Fr., from L. magnes, a magnet—Gr. magnēs=Magnesian stone, from Magnēsia, in Lydia or Thessaly.]