magnetic pole

noun

1
: either of two small regions which are located respectively in the polar areas of the northern and southern hemispheres and toward which a compass needle points from any direction throughout adjacent regions
also : either of two comparable regions on a celestial body
2
: either of the poles of a magnet

Examples of magnetic pole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Astronomers discover strange new type of star hidden in the center of our galaxy The strength of the metal detection also synced with changes observed in the star’s magnetic field, which led the team to determine that the metal scar was located on one of the star’s magnetic poles. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 26 Feb. 2024 The northern lights are best seen in high-latitude regions near the magnetic pole. The Arizona Republic, 31 Jan. 2024 When the sun is at its quietest, with nary a sunspot, its magnetic field is strong and orderly, with a tidy magnetic pole at the star’s top and bottom. Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 18 Jan. 2024 New cycles happen about every 11 years when the Sun flips its magnetic poles. Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 9 May 2023 Also, this eclipse will happen around the peak of the 11-year solar cycle—when the sun’s north and south magnetic poles flip—so more solar activity will be visible. Jenna Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 12 Feb. 2024 The current bevy of sunspots and the disappearance of magnetic poles suggest that solar maximum is either already upon us or fast approaching, says Madhulika Guhathakurta, a solar scientist at NASA. Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 18 Jan. 2024 As a result, the star's rotation can sweep the poles across the line of sight to Earth, creating the perception of a flash of radio waves each time one of the magnetic poles aligns with Earth. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 19 July 2023 When these ions and electrons slam into Earth’s atmosphere, they’re drawn to the north and south magnetic poles. Stephanie Vermillion, Vogue, 11 Dec. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'magnetic pole.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1701, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of magnetic pole was in 1701

Dictionary Entries Near magnetic pole

Cite this Entry

“Magnetic pole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/magnetic%20pole. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

magnetic pole

noun
1
: either of two small regions of the earth which are located near the North and South Poles and toward which a compass needle points
2
: either of the poles of a magnet

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