magnetometer

noun

mag·​ne·​tom·​e·​ter ˌmag-nə-ˈtä-mə-tər 

: an instrument used to detect the presence of a metallic object or to measure the intensity of a magnetic field

magnetometric

mag-ˌnē-tə-ˈme-trik 

-ˌne-

adjective

magnetometry

ˌmag-nə-ˈtä-mə-trē 

noun

Examples of magnetometer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Given the turbulent nature of the region, the team decided not to mount the magnetometer to a drone or another vehicle so as not to attract unwanted attention. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024

Meanwhile, scientists turned Galileo’s magnetometer toward Europa. —David W. Brown, The New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2024

But the most remarkable discovery came from Galileo’s magnetometer, which found that a conductive layer in Europa was generating a local magnetic field as the moon passed through Jupiter’s magnetosphere—something that could most readily be explained by the presence of a briny, subterranean ocean. —Jay Bennett, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Oct. 2024

Adorned with high-resolution cameras, spectrographs and magnetometers, the JUICE mission should be more than equipped to shed new light on Ganymede’s past. —Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

magnetometer

noun

mag·​ne·​tom·​e·​ter ˌmag-nə-ˈtäm-ət-ər 

: an instrument used to detect the presence of a metallic object or to measure the strength of a magnetic field

Medical Definition

magnetometer

noun

mag·​ne·​tom·​e·​ter ˌmag-nə-ˈtäm-ət-ər 

: an instrument used to detect the presence of a metallic object or to measure the intensity of a magnetic field

magnetometric

mag-ˌnēt-ə-ˈme-trik  -ˌnet- 

adjective

magnetometry

ˌmag-nə-ˈtäm-ə-trē 

noun

plural magnetometries