lodestone

/ˈloʊd.stoʊn/
noun
  1. Something that attracts strongly; a magnet or a person/thing that draws others.
    • The city's tech industry acts as a lodestone for young engineers.
    • The new museum became a lodestone for tourists from around the world.
    • Her charisma was a lodestone that drew people to her cause.
  2. A piece of magnetite that has magnetic properties, used historically as a compass.
    • The lodestone was one of the first known natural magnets.
    • Ancient mariners used a lodestone to magnetize their compass needles.
    • He kept a small lodestone on his desk to demonstrate magnetism.
What does "lodestone" mean? | whatsthatwordmean | whatsthatwordmean