magnetron

noun

mag·​ne·​tron ˈmag-nə-ˌträn 

: 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

And in 1945, American inventor Percy Spencer developed the microwave oven after realizing that the candy bar in his pocket began to melt near a magnetron. —Juliana Kim, NPR, 7 Jan. 2026

Electricity Produces Electromagnetic Waves A magnetron in the microwave oven uses electricity to produce electromagnetic waves. —Brittany Lubeck, Verywell Health, 20 Oct. 2025

The idea isn't new, but Epirus has improved on previous iterations by using Gallium Nitride (GaN) semiconductors to generate microwaves instead of fragile, power-hungry magnetron vacuum tubes. —New Atlas, 27 Sep. 2025

Klystrons and their cousins, cavity magnetrons (found in ordinary microwave ovens), are quite efficient because of their simplicity. —IEEE Spectrum, 24 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

blend of magnet and -tron

First Known Use

1921, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for magnetron

• aileron
• antiphon
• autobahn
• carillon
• castellan
• celadon
• cephalon
• chitosan
• cynodon
• denouement
• deuteron
• echelon

Medical Definition

magnetron

noun

mag·​ne·​tron ˈmag-nə-ˌträn 

: a diode vacuum tube in which the flow of electrons is controlled by an externally applied magnetic field to generate power at microwave frequencies