magneto

[ mag-nee-toh ]

/ mægˈni toʊ /

noun, plural mag·ne·tos. Electricity.

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.

Nearby words

magnetite, magnetizable, magnetization, magnetize, magnetizing force, magneto, magneto-, magneto-electric, magnetoacoustics, magnetocaloric effect, magnetochemistry

Origin of magneto

First recorded in 1880–85; short for magnetoelectric generator

Also called magnetoelectric generator, magnetogenerator.

Definition for magneto (2 of 2)

magneto-

a combining form representing magnetic or magnetism in compound words: magnetochemistry.

Also especially before a vowel, magnet-.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for magneto

Magneto represents an extreme point of those views so you can sort of isolate them.
The CIA Spook Turned Comic Book Scribe: Robin Grabs a Gun in ‘Grayson’|Rich Goldstein|June 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Readers unfamiliar with the twins may recognize their father, perennial X-Men villain, Magneto.
A Guide to Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver, the Twins Teased at the End of ‘Captain America: The Winter Soldier’|Rich Goldstein|April 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I was a huge fan of the X-Men comics growing up, and Magneto is great.
‘Kick-Ass 2’ Star Christopher Mintz-Plasse’s Favorite Movie Villains|Christopher Mintz-Plasse|August 15, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But Michael Fassbender reveals that he did the same thing, when he played Magneto in X-Men: First Class.
George Clooney’s Worst Job? 10 Best Newsweek Oscar Roundtable Bits|Ramin Setoodeh, David Ansen|January 23, 2012|DAILY BEAST

What is the nature of the current produced in the armature coil of a magneto, that is, is it direct or alternating?
Physics|Willis Eugene Tower
The sparking being still weak, he examined the magneto: it was choked with grease.
Round the World in Seven Days|Herbert Strang
A great variety of arrangements of the various parts of magneto desk-telephone apparatus is employed in practice.
Cyclopedia of Telephony & Telegraphy Vol. 1|Kempster Miller
This winding constitutes all of the magneto windings, no external spark coil being necessary.
Aviation Engines|Victor Wilfred Pag
With the switch in position “2” the magneto applies ignition to both plugs in each cylinder simultaneously.
Aviation Engines|Victor Wilfred Pag

British Dictionary definitions for magneto (1 of 2)

magneto

/ (mæɡˈniːtəʊ) /

noun plural -tos

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

Word Origin for magneto

C19: short for magnetoelectric generator

British Dictionary definitions for magneto (2 of 2)

magneto-

combining form

indicating magnetism or magnetic propertiesmagnetosphere

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for magneto (1 of 2)

magneto

1882, short for magneto-electric machine (see magneto-).

Word Origin and History for magneto (1 of 2)

magneto-

word-forming element meaning "magnetic, magnetism," from Greek magneto-, combining form of magnes (see magnet).