transistor

noun

tran·​sis·​tor tran-ˈzi-stər 

tran(t)-ˈsi-

1

: a solid-state electronic device that is used to control the flow of electricity in electronic equipment and usually consists of a small block of a semiconductor (such as germanium) with at least three electrodes

2

: a transistorized radio

Examples of transistor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

First, the breakdown of Dennard scaling, which posited that as transistors shrink, power density remains constant. —The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 16 Jan. 2025

That’s mostly because transistors need to maintain high signal energies for reliability, and under normal operation that all gets dissipated as heat. —IEEE Spectrum, 2 Jan. 2025

Remember the 486, Intel’s 1989 flagship CPU that was the first x86 chip with over a million transistors? —Sean Hollister, The Verge, 3 Dec. 2024

While many updates to Tesla vehicles are fixed via software updates not requiring a visit to a repair shop, the transistor issue, like three of the other recalls, requires an on-site fix. —Ethan Baron, The Mercury News, 18 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

trans- + (re)sist(ance) entry 1 + -or entry 1

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing transistor

• field-effect transistor
• transistor radio

Kids Definition

transistor

noun

tran·​sis·​tor tranz-ˈis-tər 

tran(t)s-

1

: an electronic device that consists of a small block of a semiconductor (as germanium) with at least three electrodes and is used to control the flow of electricity in electronic equipment (as a radio or computer)

2

: a radio having transistors

called also transistor radio

Medical Definition

transistor

noun

tran·​sis·​tor tranz-ˈis-tər, tran(t)s- 

: a solid-state electronic device that is used to control the flow of electricity in electronic equipment and consists of a small block of a semiconductor (as germanium) with at least three electrodes