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attraction

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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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