magnetism

noun
🔊/ˈmæɡnətɪzəm/
🔊/ˈmæɡnətɪzəm/
[uncountable]
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  1. a physical property (= characteristic) of some metals such as iron, produced by electric currents, that causes forces between objects, either pulling them towards each other or pushing them apart磁性;磁力
    • The magnetism produced by the battery attracts the metal.电池产生的磁力能够吸引金属。
    • changes in the earth's magnetism地磁变化
    Topics Physics and chemistryc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • sheer
    • animal
    • personal
    See full entry
  2. the qualities of something, especially a person’s character, that people find powerful and attractive吸引力;魅力
    • She exudes sexual magnetism.她洋溢着性感的魅力。🔊🔊
    • His personal magnetism drew people to the church.他的个人魅力把人们吸引到教堂。
    Topics Personal qualitiesc2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • sheer
    • animal
    • personal
    See full entry
  3. Word Originearly 17th cent.: from modern Latin magnetismus, from Latin magneta, from Greek magnēs lithos ‘lodestone’, probably influenced by Anglo-Norman French magnete (from Latin magnes, magnet-).