magnetic pole

noun

1

: either of two small regions which are located respectively in the polar areas of the northern and southern hemispheres and toward which a compass needle points from any direction throughout adjacent regions

also : either of two comparable regions on a celestial body

2

: either of the poles of a magnet

Examples of magnetic pole in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The magnetic poles are a source of constant radio emissions, but as the neutron star rotates, the emissions from the magnetic pole sweep across space in a manner similar to the light from a rotating lighthouse. —John Timmer, Ars Technica, 5 June 2024

Roughly every 11 years, the sun’s magnetic poles reverse and as that flip approaches, there tends to be much more magnetic activity and thus more sunspots at the surface. —Umair Irfan, Vox, 14 May 2024

This means the sun has two magnetic poles, like the Earth—but every 11 years, these poles flip positions. —Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 May 2024

When that happens, the north and south magnetic poles switch places with each other, releasing the energy that creates the solar maximum. —Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 15 May 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1701, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

magnetic pole

noun

1

: either of two small regions of the earth which are located near the North and South Poles and toward which a compass needle points

2

: either of the poles of a magnet