# magnet

/ˈmæɡnət/ (US) · /mˈæɡnɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/magnet
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. metal attractor

noun · CEFR A2

a piece of iron or steel that can pull other metal objects toward it.

For teachers: an object that produces a magnetic field, attracting iron, steel, and other ferromagnetic materials.

- The children used a magnet to pick up the paperclips from the floor.
- The industrial magnet was powerful enough to lift several tons of scrap metal from the shipping container in a single movement.

### 2. person or place that attracts

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a person or place that attracts many people or things.

For teachers: a person, place, or entity that exerts a powerful attraction or influence over others.

- The new shopping mall is a magnet for teenagers on the weekend.
- The city has become a magnet for tech startups, offering tax incentives and a highly skilled workforce to attract global investment.

### 3. internet download link

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a type of link used on the internet to download files directly.

For teachers: a URI scheme used to identify files by their content hash rather than their location, common in peer-to-peer file sharing.

- Instead of downloading a small file first, he just clicked the magnet to start the transfer.
- The site provides magnets for all its open-source distributions, allowing users to verify the integrity of the data through cryptographic hashes.

Usage: Often used as an ellipsis for 'magnet link'.

## Examples

- The magnet pulls the paperclips across the table.
- The new shopping mall acts as a magnet for tourists visiting the city center.
- By applying a high-voltage current to the coil, the researchers created a powerful temporary magnet capable of lifting several tons of scrap metal.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.