Attraction

Attraction
Attraction At*trac"tion, n. [L. attractio: cf. F. attraction.] 1. (Physics) An invisible power in a body by which it draws anything to itself; the power in nature acting mutually between bodies or ultimate particles, tending to draw them together, or to produce their cohesion or combination, and conversely resisting separation. [1913 Webster]

Note: Attraction is exerted at both sensible and insensible distances, and is variously denominated according to its qualities or phenomena. Under attraction at sensible distances, there are, -- (1.)

{Attraction of gravitation}, which acts at all distances throughout the universe, with a force proportional directly to the product of the masses of the bodies and inversely to the square of their distances apart. (2.)

{Magnetic}, {diamagnetic}, and {electrical attraction}, each of which is limited in its sensible range and is polar in its action, a property dependent on the quality or condition of matter, and not on its quantity. Under attraction at insensible distances, there are, -- (1.)

{Adhesive attraction}, attraction between surfaces of sensible extent, or by the medium of an intervening substance. (2.)

{Cohesive attraction}, attraction between ultimate particles, whether like or unlike, and causing simply an aggregation or a union of those particles, as in the absorption of gases by charcoal, or of oxygen by spongy platinum, or the process of solidification or crystallization. The power in adhesive attraction is strictly the same as that of cohesion. (3.)

{Capillary attraction}, attraction causing a liquid to rise, in capillary tubes or interstices, above its level outside, as in very small glass tubes, or a sponge, or any porous substance, when one end is inserted in the liquid. It is a special case of cohesive attraction. (4.)

{Chemical attraction}, or

{affinity}, that peculiar force which causes elementary atoms, or groups of atoms, to unite to form molecules. [1913 Webster]

2. The act or property of attracting; the effect of the power or operation of attraction. --Newton. [1913 Webster]

3. The power or act of alluring, drawing to, inviting, or engaging; an attractive quality; as, the attraction of beauty or eloquence. [1913 Webster]

4. That which attracts; an attractive object or feature. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Allurement; enticement; charm. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • attraction — [ atraksjɔ̃ ] n. f. • 1638; atration 1265; lat. attractio, de attrahere « tirer à soi » I ♦ Action d attirer; force qui attire. 1 ♦ (1688) Sc. Force qui attire les corps matériels entre eux. ⇒ gravitation. Loi de l attraction universelle (loi de… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • attraction — attraction, affinity, sympathy are comparable when they denote the relationship between persons or things that are involuntarily or naturally drawn together and exert, to some degree, an influence over each other. Attraction implies the… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • attraction — Attraction. s. f. v. Action de ce qui attire. L attraction du fer par l aimant. quelle est la cause de cette attraction? cet onguent a fait une grande attraction …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie française

  • attraction — UK US /əˈtrækʃən/ noun [C] ► something that people come to see because they are interested in it: »The historic centre is one of the major visitor attractions of the city. → See also TOURIST ATTRACTION(Cf. ↑tourist attraction) …   Financial and business terms

  • attraction — ATTRACTION. s. f. Action d attirer, ou état de ce qui est attiré. L attraction du fer par l aimant. L attraction Neutonienne …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • attraction — late 14c., from Fr. attraction, from L. attractionem (nom. attractio) a drawing together, noun of action from pp. stem of attrahere (see ATTRACT (Cf. attract)). Originally a medical word, absorption by the body; meaning action of drawing to is… …   Etymology dictionary

  • Attraction — (v. lat.), 1) A. u. Attractionskraft (Phys.), Anziehung u. Anziehungskraft, s.d. Daher Attractionisten, Anhänger der Newtonschen Meinung, daß die Himmelskörper durch eine gegenseitige Anziehung getrieben werden; im Gegensatz derer, welche… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Attraction — Attraction, Anziehung, findet man in jeder Erscheinung der Körperwelt, wo Körper mit einer gewissen Kraft an einander gehalten werden. So spricht man auch von einer Anziehung der Himmelskörper unter einander, vermöge deren sie stets in gehörigen… …   Damen Conversations Lexikon

  • attraction — index affinity (regard), chain (nexus), decoy, desire, favor (partiality), incentive …   Law dictionary

  • attraction — [n] ability to draw attention; something that draws attention allure, allurement, appeal, attractiveness, bait, captivation, charm, chemistry, come on*, courting, draw, drawing power, enchantment, endearment, enthrallment, enticement, fascination …   New thesaurus

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