magˈnetite noun

Magnetic iron ore (Fe₃O₄), called lodestone when polar

magnetīzˈable or magnetīsˈable adjective

magnetīzāˈtion or magnetīsāˈtion noun

magˈnetize or magˈnetise transitive verb

1. To make magnetic
2. To attract as if by a magnet
3. To hypnotize (archaic)
4. To convert (a school) into a magnet school (US)

magˈnetīzer or magˈnetīser noun

magneto /mag-nēˈtō/ noun (pl magnēˈtos)

Short form of magneto-electric machine, a small generator with a permanent magnet, used for ignition in an internal-combustion engine, etc

magˈneton noun

A natural unit of magnetic moment

magˈnetron noun

A two-electrode valve in which the flow of electrons from a large central cathode to a cylindrical anode is controlled by crossed electric and magnetic fields, used to give high-powered microwave radiation

magnon /magˈnon/ noun

A quantum of spin wave energy in magnetic material

magnet (high) school noun

In the USA, a school that, in addition to providing a general education, specializes in teaching a particular subject such as science, languages or performing arts

magnetic battery noun

Several magnets placed with their like poles together, so as to act with great force

magnetic board noun

A white enamelled metal board upon which material for display is mounted by means of magnetic strips

magnetic bottle noun

The containment of a plasma during thermonuclear experiments by applying a specific pattern of magnetic fields

magnetic bubble memory or magnetic bubble store noun (computing)

Same as bubble memory (see under bubble)

magnetic card noun

A piece of plastic or cardboard with a magnetizable surface on which data can be stored

magnetic chuck noun

A chuck having a surface in which alternate steel elements, separated by insulating material, are polarized by electromagnets, allowing light flat work to be held securely

magnetic confinement noun (nuclear eng)

In fusion research, the use of shaped magnetic fields to confine a plasma

magnetic curves plural noun

The curves formed by iron-filings around the poles of a magnet

magnetic dip or magnetic inclination noun

The angle between the horizontal and the line of the earth's magnetic field

magnetic disk or magnetic disc noun (computing)

A flat, circular sheet of material coated with a magnetic oxide, used to store programs and data

magnetic diskette noun (computing)

Same as floppy disk (see under flop¹)

magnetic drum noun

A storage device used in early computers, consisting of a rotating cylinder with a magnetic coating

magnetic equator noun

The line round the earth where the magnetic needle remains horizontal

magnetic field noun

The space over which magnetic force is felt

magnetic fluid noun

A hypothetical fluid formerly assumed to explain the phenomena of magnetism

magnetic flux noun

The surface integral of the product of the permeability of the medium and the magnetic field intensity perpendicular to the surface

magnetic flux density noun

The product of the field intensity and the permeability of the medium

magnetic forming noun

Use of magnetic fields to shape metal

magnetic induction noun

1. Induced magnetization in magnetic material
2. Magnetic flux density

magnetic ink noun

Ink with magnetic quality, used eg in printing cheques that are to be sorted by machine

magnetic ink character recognition noun

The reading by a computer of numbers printed in magnetic ink (abbrev MICR)

magnetic lens noun

The counterpart of an optical lens, in which a magnet or system of magnets is used to produce a field which acts on a beam of electrons in a similar way to a glass lens on light rays

magnetic levitation noun

Suspension of eg a train above a track by means of a magnetic field

magnetic media noun

A collective term for all forms of magnetic recording media, such as magnetic disks, tape, etc

magnetic meridian noun

The vertical plane through the magnetic needle

magnetic mine noun

A mine sunk to the sea-bottom, detonated by a pivoted magnetic needle when a ship approaches

magnetic mirror noun (nuclear eng)

A device based on the principle, used in mirror machines, that ions moving in a magnetic field towards a region of considerably higher magnetic field strength are reflected

magnetic moment noun

A measure of the magnetic strength of a permanent magnet, a current-carrying coil, a moving charge or individual atom in a magnetic field

magnetic monopole see monopole

magnetic needle noun

The light bar in the mariner's compass which, because it is magnetized, always points to the north

magnetic north noun

The direction indicated by the magnetic needle

magnetic poles plural noun

Two nearly opposite points on the earth's surface, where the dip of the needle is 90º

magnetic resonance imaging noun

A medical imaging technique using the magnetic resonances of protons in the body tissue (abbrev MRI)

magnetic storm noun

A disturbance in the magnetism of the earth

magnetic stripe noun

(also magˈ-stripe) a horizontal stripe on the back of a credit card, etc, which is read electronically to identify the card

magnetic tape noun

Flexible plastic tape, coated on one side with magnetic material, used to register for later reproduction television images, or sound, or computer data

magnetic therapy noun

A therapeutic treatment using the properties of magnetic fields, eg to increase the permeability of cell walls and to accelerate the healing of fractures

magnetic variation noun

The angular difference between true north and magnetic north at a particular location

animal magnetism

1. Mesmer's name for hypnotism
2. The power to hypnotize
3. According to Christian Science, the false belief that mortal mind exists (and has power to transfer thoughts)
4. Sexual power of attraction due entirely to physical attributes

artificial magnet

A magnet made by rubbing with other magnets

bar magnet

A magnet in the form of a bar

horse-shoe magnet

A magnet bent like a horseshoe

permanent magnet

A magnet that keeps its magnetism after the force which magnetized it has been removed

personal magnetism

The power of a personality to make itself felt and to exercise influence

terrestrial magnetism

The magnetic properties possessed by the earth as a whole