MAGNETIC NEEDLE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does magnetic needle mean? 

• MAGNETIC NEEDLE (noun)
  The noun MAGNETIC NEEDLE has 1 sense:

1. a slender magnet suspended in a magnetic compass on a mounting with little friction; used to indicate the direction of the earth's magnetic pole

  Familiarity information: MAGNETIC NEEDLE used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MAGNETIC NEEDLE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A slender magnet suspended in a magnetic compass on a mounting with little friction; used to indicate the direction of the earth's magnetic pole

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("magnetic needle" is a kind of...):

magnet ((physics) a device that attracts iron and produces a magnetic field)

Holonyms ("magnetic needle" is a part of...):

magnetic compass (compass based on an indicator (as a magnetic needle) that points to the magnetic north)

 Context examples 

He broke into the long easy lope, and went on, hour after hour, never at loss for the tangled way, heading straight home through strange country with a certitude of direction that put man and his magnetic needle to shame.

(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)