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

Robert Bosch, 80, bald, bearded German magneto king; in Stuttgart.

From Time Magazine Archive

A specially designed magneto furnishes a double spark.

From Time Magazine Archive

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

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

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

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

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

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

From Time Magazine Archive

The six-cylinder motor, without carburetors or magnetos, weighs 547 pounds.

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