magnetic compass

American  

noun

1. a compass having a magnetized needle generally in line with the magnetic poles of the earth.

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magnetic compass British  

noun

1. a compass containing a magnetic needle pivoted in a horizontal plane, that indicates the direction of magnetic north at points on the earth's surface

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Example Sentences

Hatchlings come equipped with a magnetic compass that helps them maintain direction, and a magnetic map that provides location information essential for successful navigation.

From Science Daily

Training materials such as the magnetic compass housing, the fire locker and the emergency equipment locker - with all their contents - have been donated to City of Glasgow College to help prepare future generations of mariners.

From BBC

Songbirds that migrate at night calibrate their magnetic compass to the setting sun, then use the stars as a compass.

From Salon

The team planned to tag humpbacks with custom-built instruments containing pressure sensors, accelerometers, magnetic compasses and hydrophones that record their underwater behavior, along with a radio transmitter to enable tracking.

From Scientific American

In response to Alexander: Tracking devices usually employ frequencies well beyond 100 megahertz, which are very unlikely to affect the birds' magnetic compass.

From Scientific American