Mag"net (măg"n&ebreve;t), n. [OE. magnete, OF.
magnete, L. magnes, - etis, Gr. Magnh^tis li`qos a
magnet, metal that looked like silver, prop., Magnesian stone, fr. Gr.
Magnhsi`a, a country in Thessaly. Cf. Magnesia, Manganese.]
1. The loadstone; a species of
iron ore (the ferrosoferric or magnetic ore, Fe3O4) which has the property of attracting iron and some of its ores, and, when freely suspended, of pointing to the poles; -- called also natural magnet.
Dinocrates began
to make the
arched roof of the temple
of Arsinoë all of magnet, or this loadstone.
Holland. Two magnets, heaven and earth, allure to bliss,
The larger loadstone that, the nearer this.
Dryden. 2. (Physics) A bar or mass of steel or iron to which
the peculiar properties of the loadstone have been imparted; -- called, in distinction from the loadstone, an artificial magnet.
&fist;
An artificial magnet, produced by the action of
a voltaic or electrical battery, is called an electro-magnet.
Field magnet (Physics &
Elec.), a magnet used for producing and maintaining a magnetic field; -- used especially
of the stationary or exciting magnet of a dynamo or electromotor in distinction from that of
the moving portion or armature.
Hear it pronounced