Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A powerful or influential person, especially in business or industry.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A person of rank; a noble or grandee; a person of note or distinction in any sphere: as, a railroad magnate.
  • noun Specifically
  • noun One of the members of the upper house of the Diet of Hungary, called the House (or Table) of Magnates. It comprises certain hereditary peers, high state dignitaries and ecclesiastics, life peers, etc.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • A person of rank; a noble or grandee; a person of influence or distinction in any sphere; -- used mostly of prominent business executives.
  • One of the nobility, or certain high officers of state belonging to the noble estate in the national representation of Hungary, and formerly of Poland.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Metal object with flux.
  • noun Powerful industrialist; captain of industry.
  • noun A person of rank, influence or distinction in any sphere.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a very wealthy or powerful businessman

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[From Middle English magnates, magnates, from Late Latin magnātēs, pl. of magnās, magnate, from Latin magnus, great; see meg- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Latin magnum ("great")

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Examples

  • To its supporters, who include among others the British Government, which has signed a potentially lucrative contract with Odyssey to salvage a 17th century navy ship called HMS Sussex carrying bullion worth up to £500m, the Nasdaq-listed company, founded by a former advertising executive and a real estate magnate, is a reputable organisation that follows strict archaeological guidelines in its legitimate search for sunken vessels.

    A £200m treasure hunt. Has Odyssey Marine found ‘La Vierge’? : Coin Collecting News 2008

  • At about the same time that shipping became a major industry, Bolivian tin magnate, Atenor Patiño, built Las Hadas, as a "playground" for his jet setting friends.

    Manzanillo... Bustling Port / Quiet Resort, Or Both? 2007

  • At about the same time that shipping became a major industry, Bolivian tin magnate, Atenor Patiño, built Las Hadas, as a "playground" for his jet setting friends.

    Manzanillo... Bustling Port / Quiet Resort, Or Both? 2007

  • Carlos Slim, the telecommunications magnate, is the richest person in Latin America, according to the annual Forbes Magazine list of the world's 500 richest people.

    Lloyd Mexico Economic Report April 2004 2004

  • Burkle, the supermarket magnate, is a believer in the separation of supermarket and state ( "The first thing they teach you in checkout-counter school," he has said, "is not to talk politics or religion with the customers").

    The Hollywood Campaign 2004

  • Burkle, the supermarket magnate, is a believer in the separation of supermarket and state ( "The first thing they teach you in checkout-counter school," he has said, "is not to talk politics or religion with the customers").

    The Hollywood Campaign 2004

  • Carlos Slim, the telecommunications magnate, is the richest person in Latin America, according to the annual Forbes Magazine list of the world's 500 richest people.

    Lloyd Mexico Economic Report April 2004 2004

  • He was quite insistent that his school was known as a magnate school.

    Word Court 2006

  • He was quite insistent that his school was known as a magnate school.

    Word Court 2006

  • My first two months as a magnate were a great success.

    Happy Days 1919

Comments

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  • to see what the attraction is????

    November 1, 2008