Jump To:

• magneto
  magneto

  noun

  a small electric generator with an armature that rotates in a magnetic field provided by permanent magnets, as a generator supplying ignition current for certain types of internal combustion engines or a hand-operated generator for telephone signaling.
• magneto-
  magneto-

  a combining form representing magnetic or magnetism in compound words.

magneto

¹ American  

[mag-nee-toh] / mægˈni toʊ /

noun

Electricity.

magnetos plural

1. a small electric generator with an armature that rotates in a magnetic field provided by permanent magnets, as a generator supplying ignition current for certain types of internal combustion engines or a hand-operated generator for telephone signaling.

---

magneto- ² American  

1. a combining form representing magnetic or magnetism in compound words.

   magnetochemistry.

---

magneto ¹ British  

/ mæɡˈniːtəʊ /

noun

1. a small electric generator in which the magnetic field is produced by a permanent magnet, esp one for providing the spark in an internal-combustion engine

---

magneto- ² British  

combining form

1. indicating magnetism or magnetic properties

   magnetosphere

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• magnetos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of magneto

First recorded in 1880–85; short for magnetoelectric generator

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

magneto magnetos

I know only one thing about them for certain, and that is that my engineer grandfather designed a magneto for the Ford Model A, which replaced the hugely successful Model T in 1928.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2022

When the proposal to replace the magneto phones with modern equipment came before the public utilities commission recently, more than 200 townspeople showed up to defend the system.

From Time Magazine Archive

Parnelli Jones gave up the chase with magneto failure on the 43rd lap.

From Time Magazine Archive

The way to stop spark plugs from broadcasting, he decided, was to enclose the ignition wires in metal shields leading from the magneto to the plugs.

From Time Magazine Archive

He switched over to the magneto and the Ford of Lee Chong chuckled and jiggled and clattered happily as though it knew it was working for a man who loved and understood it.

From "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck

It lacks, of course, the sparkplugs, wires, magnetos, etc., essential in spark-ignited gasoline engines.

From Time Magazine Archive

Son Jay was the "mechanician" during races, stopped leaks at full speed, at race's end took the magnetos home and dried them in the oven.

From Time Magazine Archive

Today few U. S. automobiles drive the roads, few airplanes fly the skies, that do not have his gadgets in them: Bendix starters, radios, brakes, Stromberg as well as Zenith carburetors, Scintilla magnetos.

From Time Magazine Archive

Shortly the Government ordered all of its warplanes immobilized, their magnetos removed.

From Time Magazine Archive

"Someone's taken the pencils from all the magnetos," he shouted angrily, his face moist with heat and lubricant.

From Malcolm Sage, Detective by Jenkins, Herbert George