mag·ne·tron | \ ˈmag-nə-ˌträn 
\
\Definition of magnetron
: a vacuum tube in which the flow of electrons is controlled by an applied magnetic field to generate power at microwave frequencies
Examples of magnetron in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web From there, the magnetron converts electricity from your home into some pretty intense radio waves.
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Courtney Linder, Popular Mechanics, "Kettle or Microwave? For the Best Tea, Science Says Make It This Way," 6 Aug. 2020 The chip that drives the microwave blindly starts and stops the magnetron to heat expired Kung Pao chicken.
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Frank O’brien, Ars Technica, "A deep dive into the Apollo Guidance Computer, and the hack that saved Apollo 14," 30 Jan. 2020 Ionized by sunlight, the barium would create a ring of moving plasma that emits radio waves: essentially a space version of a magnetron, the gadget used in microwave ovens.
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Richard Stone, Science | AAAS, "U.S. tests ways to sweep space clean of radiation after nuclear attack," 26 Dec. 2019 Understandably curious just what the heck had happened, Spencer ran another test with the magnetron.
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Matt Blitz, Popular Mechanics, "The Amazing True Story of How the Microwave Was Invented by Accident," 24 Feb. 2016 Spencer earned several patents while working on more efficient and effective ways to mass-produce radar magnetrons.
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Matt Blitz, Popular Mechanics, "The Amazing True Story of How the Microwave Was Invented by Accident," 24 Feb. 2016 So Percy Spencer, an engineer at Raytheon, was tasked with ramping up magnetron production.
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Timothy J. Jorgensen, Smithsonian, "Hot Food, Fast: The Home Microwave Oven Turns 50," 16 Mar. 2017 During World War II, the American military couldn’t get enough magnetrons to satisfy their radar needs.
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Timothy J. Jorgensen, Smithsonian, "Hot Food, Fast: The Home Microwave Oven Turns 50," 16 Mar. 2017 The air from the magnetron cooling will then be re-directed to the exterior.
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Kevin Kelly, WIRED, "Using a Microwave to Melt Metal," 22 May 2007
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'magnetron.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for magnetron
magnetron
nounmag·ne·tron | \ ˈmag-nə-ˌträn \
\Medical Definition of magnetron
: a diode vacuum tube in which the flow of electrons is controlled by an externally applied magnetic field to generate power at microwave frequencies
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The first known use of magnetron was in 1921
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