DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 Mag·net·ic Mag·net·ic·al a.
 1. Pertaining to the magnet; possessing the properties of the magnet, or corresponding properties; as, a magnetic bar of iron; a magnetic needle.
 2. Of or pertaining to, or characterized by, the earth's magnetism; as, the magnetic north; the magnetic meridian.
 3. Capable of becoming a magnet; susceptible to magnetism; as, the magnetic metals.
 4. Endowed with extraordinary personal power to excite the feelings and to win the affections; attractive; inducing attachment.
    She that had all magnetic force alone.   --Donne.
 5. Having, susceptible to, or induced by, animal magnetism, so called; hypnotic; as, a magnetic sleep. See Magnetism. [Archaic]
 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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 Am·pli·tude n.
 1. State of being ample; extent of surface or space; largeness of dimensions; size.
    The cathedral of Lincoln . . . is a magnificent structure, proportionable to the amplitude of the diocese.   --Fuller.
 2. Largeness, in a figurative sense; breadth; abundance; fullness. (a) Of extent of capacity or intellectual powers.  “Amplitude of mind.” --Milton. “Amplitude of comprehension.” --Macaulay. (b) Of extent of means or resources.  “Amplitude of reward.” --Bacon.
 3. Astron. (a) The arc of the horizon between the true east or west point and the center of the sun, or a star, at its rising or setting. At the rising, the amplitude is eastern or ortive: at the setting, it is western, occiduous, or occasive. It is also northern or southern, when north or south of the equator. (b) The arc of the horizon between the true east or west point and the foot of the vertical circle passing through any star or object.
 4. Gun. The horizontal line which measures the distance to which a projectile is thrown; the range.
 5. Physics The extent of a movement measured from the starting point or position of equilibrium; -- applied especially to vibratory movements.
 6. math. An angle upon which the value of some function depends; -- a term used more especially in connection with elliptic functions.
 Magnetic amplitude, the angular distance of a heavenly body, when on the horizon, from the magnetic east or west point as indicated by the compass. The difference between the magnetic and the true or astronomical amplitude (see 3 above) is the “variation of the compass.”
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