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attraction |
4 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: 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}. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: 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. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Elective \E*lect"ive\, a. [Cf. F. ['e]lectif.] 1. Exerting the power of choice; selecting; as an elective act 2. Pertaining to or consisting in choice, or right of choosing; electoral. The independent use of their elective franchise. --Bancroft. 3. Dependent on choice; bestowed or passing by election; as an elective study; an elective office. Kings of Rome were at first elective; . . . for such are the conditions of an elective kingdom. --Dryden. {Elective affinity} or {attraction} (Chem.), a tendency to unite with certain things chemism. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: attraction n 1: the force by which one object attracts another [syn: {attractive force}] [ant: {repulsion}] 2: an entertainment that is offered to the public 3: the quality of arousing interest; being attractive or something that attracts; "her personality held a strange attraction for him" [syn: {attractiveness}] 4: a characteristic that provides pleasure and attracts people [syn: {attractive feature}] 5: an entertainer who attracts large audiences; "he was the biggest drawing card they had" [syn: {drawing card}, {draw}]
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