maglev

Everyday

1. A maglev is a train that floats just above its track using powerful magnets, so it does not touch the rails. tree →
2. It is short for «magnetic levitation». tree →

In the lessons

Met in science lessons on magnets (like poles push apart) and in technology about fast transport; maglevs run in China and Japan.

Examples

• A maglev train floats above the track. tree →
• Maglevs can go faster than 400 kilometres an hour. tree →
• Shanghai has a maglev line to the airport. tree →
• Magnets push the maglev forward. tree →
• Because it doesn't touch the rails, a maglev is quiet. tree →
• We built a model maglev with fridge magnets. tree →

Note

Short for «magnetic levitation»; one word, lower case. Plural: maglevs. The train does not float by magic; it uses magnets that repel each other.