Paramagnetism

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Paramagnetism \Par`a*mag"net*ism\, n. (Physics)
     A property of materials which are not magnetized in the
     absence of an external magnetic field, but in which the
     magnetic moments of their constituents align with and enhance
     an applied magnetic field; the induced magnetic field of the
     substance is in direct proportion to the strength of the


     applied magnetic field; -- opposed to {diamagnetic} and
     contrasted with {ferromagnetic}. --Faraday.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  paramagnetism
       n : materials like aluminum or platinum become magnetized in a
           magnetic field but it disappears when the field is
           removed