compass needle

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Back in the lab, the cores were sliced into thin sections and analyzed with a highly sensitive magnetometer capable of detecting signals far weaker than a compass needle.

From Science Daily • Mar. 21, 2026

Using supersensitive, quantum-based magnetic sensors, it’s possible to read that field the way a compass needle does and match those variations to pre-existing maps of them.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 6, 2026

Above, the mast tilted back and forth like a compass needle aimed at the sky.

From New York Times • Dec. 27, 2022

These errors are akin to flipping a compass needle from north to south or east to west, respectively.

From Scientific American • Sep. 22, 2022

Lyra couldn’t control its movement at all; it swung where it wanted to, like a compass needle, except that it didn’t settle.

From "The Golden Compass" by Philip Pullman