magneto

[mag-nee-toh]

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.

Origin of magneto

First recorded in 1880–85; short for magnetoelectric generator

Also called magnetoelectric generator, magnetogenerator.

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

Contemporary Examples of 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
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
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
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

Historical Examples of magneto

They are dependent upon a magneto which is dependent only upon faith.
Free Air
Sinclair Lewis
The magneto was run by a belt from one of the ballonet blowers.
The War in the Air; Vol. 1
Walter Raleigh.
It is usually run by suitable gearing direct from the shaft of the magneto.
Motors
James Slough Zerbe
As stated, a magneto is a special type of dynamo which will now be explained.
Motors
James Slough Zerbe
Provided the magneto were all right, he felt that he might get started again after all.
Bert Wilson's Twin Cylinder Racer
J. W. Duffield

British Dictionary definitions for magneto

magneto

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

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

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

magneto-

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