Meanings
nounmagnetic compass (plural magnetic compasses)
plural magnetic compasses
- governmentAn instrument containing a freely suspended magnetic element which displays the direction of the horizontal component of the Earth’s magnetic field at the point of observation.
Synonyms: compass
- A supposed organ, in some animals, that allows then to align themselves with the Earth's magnetic field.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounAn instrument containing a freely suspended magnetic element which displays the direction of the horizontal component of the Earth’s magnetic field at the point of observation.
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Also see
Translations
Finnish magneettinen kompassi
- magneettinen kompassiinstrument
French boussole magnétique
- boussole magnétiqueinstrument
Greek μαγνητική πυξίδα
- μαγνητική πυξίδα (magnitikí pyxída)instrument
Italian bussola magnetica
- bussola magneticainstrument
Japanese 方位磁針
- 方位磁針 (hōijishin)instrument
Latin pyxis
- pyxisinstrument
Polish busola
- busolainstrument
Romanian busolă magnetică
- busolă magneticăinstrument
Swedish magnetkompass
- magnetkompassinstrument
Tagalog balniing paraluman
- balniing paralumaninstrument
Cite this entry
APA
magnetic compass. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/magnetic%20compass
MLA
“magnetic compass.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/magnetic%20compass. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “magnetic compass,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/magnetic%20compass.
Source: magnetic compass on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.