magnetic compass

noun

Meaning

An 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.
A supposed organ, in some animals, that allows then to align themselves with the Earth's magnetic field.

Etymology / origin

No prose etymology has been added yet.

No ancestor words have been linked yet.

Related words

mariner's compass(English)magnetometer(English)magnetic variation(English)magnetarium(English)magnetimeter(English)magnetic mine(English)magnetod(English)mine dial(English)

Descendant words

No descendant words have been linked yet.

Sources

DictionaryAPI.dev English dictionary data