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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Magnet \Mag"net\ (m[a^]g"n[e^]t), noun [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 Arsino["e] 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}.
Note: An artificial magnet, produced by the action of an electrical current, 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.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
magnet
noun
1: (physics) a device that attracts iron and produces a magnetic field
2: a characteristic that provides pleasure and attracts; "flowers are an attractor for bees" [syn: {attraction}, {attractor}, {attracter}, {attractive feature}]
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
36 Moby Thesaurus words for "magnet": ambition, artificial magnet, bar magnet, catch, center of attraction, center of consciousness, center of interest, cynosure, dearest wish, desideration, desideratum, desire, electromagnetic lifting magnet, field magnet, focal point, focus, focus of attention, forbidden fruit, glimmering goal, golden vision, hope, horseshoe magnet, lodestar, lodestone, magnetic needle, magnetite, paramagnet, plum, point of convergence, polestar, prime focus, prize, solenoid, temptation, trophy, wish
From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]:
MAGNET, noun Something acted upon by magnetism.
From U.S. Gazetteer (1990) [gazetteer]:
Magnet, IN Zip code(s): 47555 Magnet, NE (village, FIPS 30310) Location: 42.45741 N, 97.46916 W Population (1990): 69 (37 housing units) Area: 0.4 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water) Zip code(s): 68749
From U.S. Gazetteer Places (2000) [gaz-place]:
Magnet, NE -- U.S. village in Nebraska Population (2000): 79 Housing Units (2000): 39 Land area (2000): 0.144242 sq. miles (0.373585 sq. km) Water area (2000): 0.000000 sq. miles (0.000000 sq. km) Total area (2000): 0.144242 sq. miles (0.373585 sq. km) FIPS code: 30310 Located within: Nebraska (NE), FIPS 31 Location: 42.455401 N, 97.470798 W ZIP Codes (1990): 68749 Note: some ZIP codes may be omitted esp. for suburbs. Headwords: Magnet, NE Magnet
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