magnetic compass

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search

English

[edit]
A magnetic compass

Noun

[edit]

magnetic compass (plural magnetic compasses)

  1. (military, nautical) 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.
    Synonym: (abbreviation) compass
  2. A supposed organ, in some animals, that allows then to align themselves with the Earth's magnetic field.

Translations

[edit]

References

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]