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.
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   2. Of or
         pertaining to, or characterized by, the earth's
     
         magnetism; as, the magnetic north; the magnetic meridian.
 
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   3. Capable of becoming a magnet;
         susceptible to magnetism;
      as, the magnetic metals.
 
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   4. Endowed with extraordinary
         personal power to excite the
      feelings and to win the
         affections; attractive; inducing
      attachment.
     
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            She that had all magnetic force alone. --Donne.
     
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   5. Having, susceptible to, or induced
         by, animal magnetism,
      so called; hypnotic; as, a
         magnetic sleep. See
      Magnetism. [Archaic]
   
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   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 fluid,
         the hypothetical
         fluid whose existence was
      formerly assumed in the
         explanations of the phenomena of
      magnetism; -- no
         longer considered a meaningful concept.
      

  
         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 tape (Electronics), a ribbon of
         plastic material
      to which is affixed a thin layer of
         powder of a material
      which can be magnetized, such as
         ferrite. Such tapes are
      used in various electronic
         devices to record fluctuating
      voltages, which can be
         used to represent sounds, images,
      or binary data.
         Devices such as audio casette recorders,
      videocasette
         recorders, and computer data storage devices
      use
         magnetic tape as an inexpensive medium to store data.
     
         Different magnetically susceptible materials are used in
  
            such tapes.

   Magnetic telegraph, a telegraph
         acting by means of a
      magnet. See Telegraph.
     
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