Adjacent Words

Magnetic definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

MAGNET'IC
MAGNET'ICAL, a. Pertaining to the magnet; possessing the properties of the magnet, or corresponding properties; as a magnetic bar of iron, or a magnetic needle.
1. Attractive.
She that had all magnetic force along--

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: of or relating to or caused by magnetism; "magnetic forces"
2: having the properties of a magnet; i.e. of attracting iron or steel; "the hard disk is covered with a thin coat of magnetic material" [syn: magnetic, magnetized, magnetised] [ant: antimagnetic]
3: capable of being magnetized [ant: nonmagnetic]
4: determined by earth's magnetic fields; "magnetic north"; "the needle of a magnetic compass points to the magnetic north pole" [ant: geographic, geographical]
5: possessing an extraordinary ability to attract; "a charismatic leader"; "a magnetic personality" [syn: charismatic, magnetic]

Merriam Webster's

I. adjective Date: 1611 1. possessing an extraordinary power or ability to attract <a magnetic personality> 2. a. of or relating to a magnet or to magnetism b. of, relating to, or characterized by the earth's magnetism c. magnetized or capable of being magnetized d. actuated by magnetic attraction • magnetically adverb II. noun Date: 1654 a magnetic substance

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. 1 a having the properties of a magnet. b producing, produced by, or acting by magnetism. 2 capable of being attracted by or acquiring the properties of a magnet. 3 very attractive or alluring (a magnetic personality). Phrases and idioms: magnetic compass = COMPASS 1. magnetic disk see DISC. magnetic equator an imaginary line, near the equator, on which a magnetic needle has no dip. magnetic field a region of variable force around magnets, magnetic materials, or current-carrying conductors. magnetic inclination = DIP n. 8. magnetic mine a submarine mine detonated by the proximity of a magnetized body such as that of a ship. magnetic moment the property of a magnet that interacts with an applied field to give a mechanical moment. magnetic needle a piece of magnetized steel used as an indicator on the dial of a compass and in magnetic and electrical apparatus, esp. in telegraphy. magnetic north the point indicated by the north end of a compass needle. magnetic pole 1 each of the points near the extremities of the axis of rotation of the earth or another body where a magnetic needle dips vertically. 2 each of the regions of an artificial or natural magnet, from which the magnetic forces appear to originate. magnetic storm a disturbance of the earth's magnetic field caused by charged particles from the sun etc. magnetic tape a tape coated with magnetic material for recording sound or pictures or for the storage of information. Derivatives: magnetically adv. Etymology: LL magneticus (as MAGNET)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Magnetic Mag*net"ic, n. 1. A magnet. [Obs.] As the magnetic hardest iron draws. --Milton. 2. Any metal, as iron, nickel, cobalt, etc., which may receive, by any means, the properties of the loadstone, and which then, when suspended, fixes itself in the direction of a magnetic meridian.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Magnetic Mag*net"ic, Magnetical Mag*net"ic*al, a. [L. magneticus: cf. F. magn['e]tique.] 1. Pertaining to the magnet; possessing the properties of the magnet, or corresponding properties; as, a magnetic bar of iron; a magnetic needle. 2. Of or pertaining to, or characterized by, the earth's magnetism; as, the magnetic north; the magnetic meridian. 3. Capable of becoming a magnet; susceptible to magnetism; as, the magnetic metals. 4. Endowed with extraordinary personal power to excite the feelings and to win the affections; attractive; inducing attachment. She that had all magnetic force alone. --Donne. 5. Having, susceptible to, or induced by, animal magnetism, so called; as, a magnetic sleep. See Magnetism. Magnetic amplitude, attraction, dip, induction, etc. See under Amplitude, Attraction, etc. Magnetic battery, a combination of bar or horseshoe magnets with the like poles adjacent, so as to act together with great power. Magnetic compensator, a contrivance connected with a ship's compass for compensating or neutralizing the effect of the iron of the ship upon the needle. Magnetic curves, curves indicating lines of magnetic force, as in the arrangement of iron filings between the poles of a powerful magnet. Magnetic elements. (a) (Chem. Physics) Those elements, as iron, nickel, cobalt, chromium, manganese, etc., which are capable or becoming magnetic. (b) (Physics) In respect to terrestrial magnetism, the declination, inclination, and intensity. (c) See under Element. Magnetic equator, the line around the equatorial parts of the earth at which there is no dip, the dipping needle being horizontal. Magnetic field, or Field of magnetic force, any space through which magnet exerts its influence. Magnetic fluid, the hypothetical fluid whose existence was formerly assumed in the explanations of the phenomena of magnetism. Magnetic iron, or Magnetic iron ore. (Min.) Same as Magnetite. Magnetic needle, a slender bar of steel, magnetized and suspended at its center on a sharp-pointed pivot, or by a delicate fiber, so that it may take freely the direction of the magnetic meridian. It constitutes the essential part of a compass, such as the mariner's and the surveyor's. Magnetic poles, the two points in the opposite polar regions of the earth at which the direction of the dipping needle is vertical. Magnetic pyrites. See Pyrrhotite. Magnetic storm (Terrestrial Physics), a disturbance of the earth's magnetic force characterized by great and sudden changes. Magnetic telegraph, a telegraph acting by means of a magnet. See Telegraph.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Attraction At*trac"tion, n. [L. attractio: cf. F. attraction.] 1. (Physics) An invisible power in a body by which it draws anything to itself; the power in nature acting mutually between bodies or ultimate particles, tending to draw them together, or to produce their cohesion or combination, and conversely resisting separation. Note: Attraction is exerted at both sensible and insensible distances, and is variously denominated according to its qualities or phenomena. Under attraction at sensible distances, there are, -- (1.) Attraction of gravitation, which acts at all distances throughout the universe, with a force proportional directly to the product of the masses of the bodies and inversely to the square of their distances apart. (2.) Magnetic, diamagnetic, and electrical attraction, each of which is limited in its sensible range and is polar in its action, a property dependent on the quality or condition of matter, and not on its quantity. Under attraction at insensible distances, there are, -- (1.) Adhesive attraction, attraction between surfaces of sensible extent, or by the medium of an intervening substance. (2.) Cohesive attraction, attraction between ultimate particles, whether like or unlike, and causing simply an aggregation or a union of those particles, as in the absorption of gases by charcoal, or of oxygen by spongy platinum, or the process of solidification or crystallization. The power in adhesive attraction is strictly the same as that of cohesion. (3.) Capillary attraction, attraction causing a liquid to rise, in capillary tubes or interstices, above its level outside, as in very small glass tubes, or a sponge, or any porous substance, when one end is inserted in the liquid. It is a special case of cohesive attraction. (4.) Chemical attraction, or affinity, that peculiar force which causes elementary atoms, or groups of atoms, to unite to form molecules. 2. The act or property of attracting; the effect of the power or operation of attraction. --Newton. 3. The power or act of alluring, drawing to, inviting, or engaging; an attractive quality; as, the attraction of beauty or eloquence. 4. That which attracts; an attractive object or feature. Syn: Allurement; enticement; charm.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

1. If something metal is magnetic, it acts like a magnet. ...magnetic particles. ADJ: usu ADJ n 2. You use magnetic to describe something that is caused by or relates to the force of magnetism. The electrically charged gas particles are affected by magnetic forces. ADJ • magnetically ...metal fragments held together magnetically. ADV: ADV after v 3. You use magnetic to describe tapes and other objects which have a coating of a magnetic substance and contain coded information that can be read by computers or other machines. ...her magnetic strip ID card. ADJ: usu ADJ n 4. If you describe something as magnetic, you mean that it is very attractive to people because it has unusual, powerful, and exciting qualities. ...the magnetic effect of the prosperous German economy on would-be immigrants. ADJ: usu ADJ n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

a.; (also magnetical) Attractive.

Moby Thesaurus

absorbing, adductive, alluring, appealing, arresting, attracting, attractive, attrahent, authoritative, beguiling, bewitching, captivating, charismatic, charming, consequential, consuming, diamagnetic, dragging, drawing, effective, effectual, efficacious, electromagnetic, enchanting, engaging, engrossing, enthralling, entrancing, estimable, fascinating, ferromagnetic, gripping, holding, hypnotic, important, influential, inviting, irresistible, magnetized, mesmeric, mesmerizing, momentous, obsessing, obsessive, personable, persuasive, polar, potent, powerful, prestigious, pulling, reputable, seductive, spellbinding, strong, suasive, substantial, sympathetic, telling, tugging, weighty, winning, winsome