Definition
The horizontal angle, measured clockwise from magnetic north, to a point or object. It is expressed in degrees from 000° to 360° and is referenced to the Earth's magnetic north pole rather than true (geographic) north.
Plain English
The compass direction from where you are to something else, measured in degrees clockwise from magnetic north.
Context Anchor
Seen in navigation, chart work, compass use, and directions to or from a point on the ground.
Derivation
Bearing' comes from the old sense of 'the direction in which one is carried or pointed.' 'Magnetic' specifies that the direction is measured from magnetic north — the direction a compass needle points — rather than true north (the geographic pole).
Why Pilots Care
Allows direct use of compass readings for course corrections without first converting from true north.
Intuition Check
A magnetic bearing is not automatically the same as the airplane’s heading. Bearing is the direction to or from a point; heading is the direction the airplane’s nose is pointing.
Example Sentence 1
The chart showed a magnetic bearing of 075° from the airport to the VOR.
Example Sentence 2
After takeoff the controller gave a magnetic bearing of 180 degrees to the next waypoint.