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

The No. 1 favorite, wispy Bobby Hill of Columbus, Ohio, winner of five top races last year, went out on Lap 10 with a dead magneto.

From Time Magazine Archive

In early days the Bosch magneto was used on stationary internal combustion engines, was not adapted to an automobile until 1896.

From Time Magazine Archive

On the field he often does crackle like an old Ford magneto, kids in a boy-and-father way with Manager Durocher.

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

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

From Time Magazine Archive

Stromberg-Carlson had a $48,985 educational order for field-telephone magnetos, but was more interested in its booming domestic business of frequency-modulation radio sets.

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

Automobiles are not allowed within a mile of the Platanos receiving station antenna, lest the magnetos might cause interference.

From Time Magazine Archive

On this vertical shaft there is mounted the water pump and a bevel gear for driving two magnetos.

From Aviation Engines Design?Construction?Operation and Repair by Victor Wilfred Pag?

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---