dynamo

noun

dy·​na·​mo ˈdī-nə-ˌmō 

plural dynamos

1

: generator sense 1b

2

: a forceful energetic individual

Did you know?

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.

Synonyms

• fireball
• live wire
• pistol

Examples of dynamo in a Sentence

a dynamo who barely needs to sleep, or so it seems

Recent Examples on the Web

And for the production currently at the Savoy, high-school dynamo Mariam Faal plays the Debater. —Lisa Kennedy, The Denver Post, 9 Feb. 2024

Pairing Coleman with dynamo Zay Flowers would stop that vicious cycle. —Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Mar. 2024

If Tom’s early days with Dickie flicker with the energy of a dynamo pulling him into his orbit, his time with Peter is tender, a moment of grace. —Hazlitt, 28 Feb. 2024

This moving plasma is what generates a star’s magnetic field, known as a magnetic dynamo. —Popular Science, 29 Feb. 2024

The disruptive dynamo leads the Pac-12 and is sixth in the country in steals per game (2.8). —Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2024

Grant-Foster, who is a 6-foot-7 dynamo, a high-level player, hadn't played in a college basketball game in two years before coming to GCU. —Richard Obert, The Arizona Republic, 16 Jan. 2024

Johnson, the former Houston Texans dynamo, is one of only three players during the Super Bowl era to lead the NFL in receiving yards in consecutive seasons (along with Jerry Rice and Calvin Johnson). —USA TODAY, 9 Feb. 2024

In two seasons, DeBoer has turned the staggering program into an undefeated dynamo on the brink of a national championship. —Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 6 Jan. 2024

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

Kids Definition

dynamo

noun

dy·​na·​mo ˈdī-nə-ˌmō 

plural dynamos

1

: generator sense a

2

: a forceful energetic person