Meaning & use
magnet
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Meanings
nouncountable
A piece of iron, steel or other material that pulls certain metals toward itself and has a north and a south end.
Grammar: Countable: one magnet, two magnets; often followed by 'for' or 'to'.
Patterns
- a magnet for something
- stick to a magnet
She used a magnet to pick up the loose pins from the floor.
Paper clips cling to the end of the magnet.
The children tested which objects the magnet would attract.
nouncountablefigurative
A person, place or thing that strongly draws attention or other people toward it.
Grammar: Often followed by 'for': a magnet for tourists.
Patterns
- a magnet for someone
- a magnet for something
The new aquarium became a magnet for families from across the region.
The charming young actor was a magnet for photographers.
Bright lights and loud music make the square a magnet for night-time crowds.
Word forms
| plural | magnets |
|---|
Common combinations
- fridge magnet
- A fridge magnet from Lisbon held the shopping list in place.
- powerful magnet
- A powerful magnet lifted the heavy chain with ease.
- bar magnet
- In the lab we scattered iron filings around a bar magnet.
- magnet for tourists
- The old castle is a magnet for tourists every summer.
- talent magnet
- The firm is a talent magnet because of its excellent training programs.
Synonyms and how they differ
- lodestone
- It is a naturally magnetic rock, now mostly a literary or historical word, and so it sounds old-fashioned beside 'magnet'.
- attraction
- It is the general word for something people want to visit or see, but it does not carry the sense of an irresistible pull.
- draw
- In 'a big draw' it is a more casual way to say something attracts crowds.
Opposites
Word family
- magnetic adjective
- having the power of a magnet, or very attractive
- magnetism noun
- the force of a magnet, or personal charm
- magnetize verb
- to make something magnetic
- magnetically adverb
- in a way that attracts strongly
- electromagnet noun
- a magnet powered by an electric current
Commonly confused: magnet or magnate?
magnet vs magnate
A magnate is a powerful business person, such as a media magnate. It sounds like 'magnet' in some accents but has no connection to attraction.
Practice
The harbor town has become a ____ for artists looking for cheap studios and good light.
Choose one answer.
A 'magnet for' something means a place that strongly draws it in. 'Magnate' sounds similar, but it means a powerful business owner.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “magnet”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.