[mag-nee-toh] 
| a small electric generator with an armature that rotates in a magnetic field provided by permanent magnets, as a generator supplying ignition current for certain types of internal combustion engines or a hand-operated generator for telephone signaling. |
| mag·ne·to (māg-nē'tō) n. pl. mag·ne·tos A device that produces alternating current for distribution to the spark plugs, used in the ignition systems of some internal-combustion engines. [Short for magnetoelectric machine.] |