zero magnet, n.

zero-magnet
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zero-magnet_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
Revised 2018

# zero magnetnoun

## Factsheet

### What does the noun zero magnet mean?

There is one meaning in OED's entry for the noun zero magnet. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definition, usage, and quotation evidence.

### Where does the noun zero magnet come from?

Earliest known use

1890s

The earliest known use of the noun zero magnet is in the 1890s.

OED's earliest evidence for zero magnet is from 1890, in Century Dictionary.

### Nearby entries

1. zero-graze, v. 1954–
2. zero-grazed, adj. 1958–
3. zero grazing, n. 1954–
4. zero growth, n. 1907–
5. zero hour, n. 1915–
6. zero-hours, adj. 1988–
7. zeroing, n. 1906–
8. zeroize, v. 1894–
9. zero-length, adj. 1945–
10. zero-line, n. 1834–
11. zero magnet, n.1890–
12. zero mark, n. 1821–
13. zero meridian, n. 1849–
14. zero norm, n. 1966–
15. zero option, n. 1976–
16. zero-order, adj. 1919–
17. zero plane, n. 1842–
18. zero point, n. 1789–
19. zero-point energy, n. 1913–
20. zero population growth, n. 1955–
21. zero post, n. 1908–

## Meaning & use

Now rare.

1. 1890–
   A magnet used to reset the zero of an instrument or device; cf. zero n. A.4a.
   1. 1890

      > Deflecting-magnet,..also called zero magnet, directing-magnet, and deflector.

      Century Dictionary at Magnet
   2. 1894

      > I use a small weak ‘zero magnet’, with its magnetic axis perpendicular to the plane of the mirror, for the purpose of bringing the zero of the scale to the cross wire of the telescope.

      Philosophical Transactions 1893 (Royal Society) A. vol. 184 596
   3. 1969

      > In a variation of the instrument an additional zero magnet causes the pointer to return to the low end of the scale.

      W. W. Bischoff in J. G. Giles, Vehicle Equipm. v. 222
   magnetism

Originally published as part of the entry for zero, n. & adj.

zero, n. & adj. was revised in June 2018.