ferrite

American  

[fer-ahyt] / ˈfɛr aɪt /

noun

1. Chemistry. a compound, as NaFeO 2 , formed when ferric oxide is combined with a more basic metallic oxide.

2. Metallurgy. the pure iron constituent of ferrous metals, as distinguished from the iron carbides.

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ferrite British  

/ ˈfɛraɪt /

noun

1. any of a group of ferromagnetic highly resistive ceramic compounds with the formula MFe 2 O 4 , where M is usually a metal such as cobalt or zinc

2. any of the body-centred cubic allotropes of iron, such as alpha iron, occurring in steel, cast iron, etc

3. any of various microscopic grains, probably composed of iron compounds, in certain igneous rocks

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Etymology

Origin of ferrite

1875–80; < Latin ferr ( um ) iron + -ite ¹

Example Sentences

When we turn on the fans, the frequencies at which the cavity resonates are different for counterrotating sound waves, similar to how Zeeman splitting changes the energy of light’s interactions in a ferrite.

From Scientific American • Nov. 18, 2022

My group has shown that we can replace the tiny circulating currents in a magnetized ferrite with mechanically rotating elements in a metamaterial.

From Scientific American • Nov. 18, 2022

When a linearly polarized wave travels through a magnetized ferrite, the overall effect is to rotate the polarization, in some ways similar to the metamaterials discussed earlier.

From Scientific American • Nov. 18, 2022

Decent speakers can be two feet high with heavy ferrite magnet drivers hidden by gossamer cloth grilles.

From New York Times • Jan. 3, 2019

Where poor machining conditions in heat-treated steels are present they are generally due to incomplete solution of cementite rather than bands of free ferrite, as in the case of case-hardening steels.

From The Working of Steel Annealing, Heat Treating and Hardening of Carbon and Alloy Steel by Colvin, Fred H. (Fred Herbert)