Magnetic storm

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
magnetic storm
    n 1: a sudden disturbance of the earth's magnetic field; caused
         by emission of particles from the sun
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
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}.
      [1913 Webster + PJC]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
magnetic storm \magnetic storm\ n.
   A sudden disturbance of the earth's magnetic field; caused by
   emission of particles from the sun.
   [WordNet 1.5]
    
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Storm \Storm\, n. [AS. storm; akin to D. storm, G. sturm, Icel.
   stormr; and perhaps to Gr. ? assault, onset, Skr. s? to flow,
   to hasten, or perhaps to L. sternere to strew, prostrate (cf.
   {Stratum}). [root]166.]
   1. A violent disturbance of the atmosphere, attended by wind,
      rain, snow, hail, or thunder and lightning; hence, often,
      a heavy fall of rain, snow, or hail, whether accompanied
      with wind or not.
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            We hear this fearful tempest sing,
            Yet seek no shelter to avoid the storm. --Shak.
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   2. A violent agitation of human society; a civil, political,
      or domestic commotion; sedition, insurrection, or war;
      violent outbreak; clamor; tumult.
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            I will stir up in England some black storm. --Shak.
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            Her sister
            Began to scold and raise up such a storm. --Shak.
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   3. A heavy shower or fall, any adverse outburst of tumultuous
      force; violence.
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            A brave man struggling in the storms of fate.
                                                  --Pope.
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   4. (Mil.) A violent assault on a fortified place; a furious
      attempt of troops to enter and take a fortified place by
      scaling the walls, forcing the gates, or the like.
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   Note: Storm is often used in the formation of self-explained
         compounds; as, storm-presaging, stormproof,
         storm-tossed, and the like.
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   {Anticyclonic storm} (Meteor.), a storm characterized by a
      central area of high atmospheric pressure, and having a
      system of winds blowing spirally outward in a direction
      contrary to that cyclonic storms. It is attended by low
      temperature, dry air, infrequent precipitation, and often
      by clear sky. Called also {high-area storm},
      {anticyclone}. When attended by high winds, snow, and
      freezing temperatures such storms have various local
      names, as {blizzard}, {wet norther}, {purga}, {buran},
      etc.

   {Cyclonic storm}. (Meteor.) A cyclone, or low-area storm. See
      {Cyclone}, above.

   {Magnetic storm}. See under {Magnetic}.

   {Storm-and-stress period} [a translation of G. sturm und
      drang periode], a designation given to the literary
      agitation and revolutionary development in Germany under
      the lead of Goethe and Schiller in the latter part of the
      18th century.

   {Storm center} (Meteorol.), the center of the area covered by
      a storm, especially by a storm of large extent.

   {Storm door} (Arch.), an extra outside door to prevent the
      entrance of wind, cold, rain, etc.; -- usually removed in
      summer.

   {Storm path} (Meteorol.), the course over which a storm, or
      storm center, travels.

   {Storm petrel}. (Zool.) See {Stormy petrel}, under {Petrel}.
      

   {Storm sail} (Naut.), any one of a number of strong, heavy
      sails that are bent and set in stormy weather.

   {Storm scud}. See the Note under {Cloud}.
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   Syn: Tempest; violence; agitation; calamity.

   Usage: {Storm}, {Tempest}. Storm is violent agitation, a
          commotion of the elements by wind, etc., but not
          necessarily implying the fall of anything from the
          clouds. Hence, to call a mere fall or rain without
          wind a storm is a departure from the true sense of the
          word. A tempest is a sudden and violent storm, such as
          those common on the coast of Italy, where the term
          originated, and is usually attended by a heavy rain,
          with lightning and thunder.
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                Storms beat, and rolls the main;
                O! beat those storms, and roll the seas, in
                vain.                             --Pope.
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                What at first was called a gust, the same
                Hath now a storm's, anon a tempest's name.
                                                  --Donne.
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