lodestone
/ˈloʊdˌstoʊn/ noun
Forms lodestones loadstone
- noun (obsolete) The mineral magnetite.
- noun Any naturally occurring magnet.
- noun (by extension) The focus of one's attraction or attention “an ideological lodestone”
Synonyms
Etymology
First attested from 1515, from Middle English lode (“guide”) + stone. From use as a guide tool by mariners. See also: lodestar.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A piece of magnetic iron ore possessing polarity like a magnetic needle. See Magnetite.
- noun Same as Loadstone.
Etymology [Load, lode + stone.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “lodestone”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details