Magnetron
/ˈmæɡ.nə.trɒn/noun
A vacuum tube or device used to generate microwaves, especially in radar and microwave ovens.
Did you know?The name was coined in the early 20th century from magnet- plus the scientific suffix -ron, making it a modern technical word rather than an ancient magical one.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
magnētis lithos
“'Magnesian stone,' the lodestone named for Magnesia in Asia Minor”
Late Latin
Latin
magnes
“Lodestone, magnet”
Middle English
English
magnet
“A lodestone or magnetic stone”
Early 20th Century
English
magnetron
“A coined technical term for a type of electron tube related to magnetism”
Modern English
English
magnetron
“A device that generates microwaves, especially in radar and microwave ovens”