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• 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.

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magneto- ² American  

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

   magnetochemistry.

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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

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magneto- ² British  

combining form

1. indicating magnetism or magnetic properties

   magnetosphere

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• magnetos
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of magneto

First recorded in 1880–85; short for magnetoelectric generator

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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 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

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

At Accra, a faulty magneto on the right inboard engine had been repaired.

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

Thus Scintilla magnetos are standard equipment on Curtiss, Wright and Pratt & Whitney engines.

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

Outboard, it carried 8,300 lb. of fuel pumps, starters, magnetos and other critical replacements for the China-Burma-India theater.

From Time Magazine Archive

Ignition is by two eight-cylinder magnetos firing two spark-plugs per cylinder.

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

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