dynamo

noun

dy·​na·​mo ˈdī-nə-ˌmō How to pronounce dynamo (audio)
plural dynamos
1
2
: a forceful energetic individual

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The dynamo was introduced in 1867 to produce electricity for commercial use. Like all later generators, the original dynamos changed mechanical energy (produced by steam, which was itself produced by burning coal) into electricity. The word is less used today than it once was, since it's often applied only to generators that produced direct electric current (DC) rather than alternating current (AC), which is now the standard. A human dynamo is a person who seems to have unlimited energy.

Examples of dynamo in a Sentence

a dynamo who barely needs to sleep, or so it seems
Recent Examples on the Web Also stunning the audience were performances from sibling duo Larkin Poe, Red Dirt country-rockers Turnpike Troubadours, and the octave-scaling, peerless vocal dynamo The War and Treaty (who drew an instant, rowdy standing ovation). Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 19 Sep. 2024 Managing For The Long Term Even since On Holding stepped into the public market in September 2021, it’s been a growth dynamo. Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes, 8 Sep. 2024 Sheila has been a ratings dynamo, and that’s why she’s murdered so many people. Lynette Rice, Deadline, 6 Sep. 2024 Exactly 12 months later, Roan stood onstage Sunday afternoon at the Outside Lands festival as pop’s biggest new star: a redheaded dynamo in a blue-sequined majorette’s uniform teaching an audience in the tens of thousands how to do a dance that everyone already seemed to know. Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 13 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for dynamo 

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

Word History

Etymology

short for dynamo-electric machine, translation of German dynamo-elektrische Maschine; dynamo-elektrisch, probably by inversion of elektrodynamisch electrodynamic

Note: According to the Oxford English Dictionary (first edition, 1897), "The full name dynamo-electric machine was given by [Werner] Siemens in 1867, to distinguish his invention from the magneto-electric machines previously used, in which the electric current was generated by means of a permanent magnet." This statement appears to be based on a citation from The Times (December 5, 1882), according to which, "Professor Thompson [not further identified] said that the name 'dynamo-electric machine' was first applied by Dr. Werner Siemens in a communication made in January, 1867, to the Berlin Academy." The communication in question was "Ueber die Umwandlung von Arbeitskraft in elektrischen Strom ohne Anwendung permanenter Magnete," published in Annalen der Physik und Chemie, Band 130 (1867), pp. 332-35. The article does in fact describe a generator with rotating coils, but nowhere does Siemens use the word dynamo-elektrisch or the phrase dynamo-elektrische Maschine; the closest he comes is magnetelektrisch for the opposing term. The first appearance of dynamo-elektrisch must date some time after this.

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of dynamo was in 1882

Dictionary Entries Near dynamo

Cite this Entry

“Dynamo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dynamo. Accessed 16 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

dynamo

noun
dy·​na·​mo ˈdī-nə-ˌmō How to pronounce dynamo (audio)
plural dynamos
1
2
: a forceful energetic person

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