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Noun: magnetron  'mag-ni,trón
  1. A diode vacuum tube in which the flow of electrons from a central cathode to a cylindrical anode is controlled by crossed magnetic and electric fields; used mainly in microwave oscillators
    "The microwave oven's magnetron generated the cooking energy"

Derived forms: magnetrons

Type of: electron tube, thermionic tube, thermionic vacuum tube, thermionic valve, tube, vacuum tube

Encyclopedia: Magnetron