vacuum tube

noun

: an electron tube evacuated to a high degree of vacuum

Examples of vacuum tube in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The cathode rays Crookes observed in his vacuum tubes were as evanescent as any ghost. Jonathon Keats, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024 There were vacuum tubes to store data in the 1960s. Thangaraj Petchiappan, Forbes, 12 Sep. 2024 To measure this force within their vacuum tube, the researchers will suspend two samples made of different materials from a two-meter-tall, 1.50-meter-wide balance and induce the Casimir effect within one. Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 1 May 2023 Making his first bid for political office, Garvey has proven to be as empty as a vacuum tube. Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for vacuum tube 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vacuum tube.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1859, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of vacuum tube was in 1859

Dictionary Entries Near vacuum tube

Cite this Entry

“Vacuum tube.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vacuum%20tube. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

vacuum tube

noun
: an electron tube from which most of the air has been removed

Medical Definition

vacuum tube

noun
: an electronic device in which conduction by electrons takes place through a vacuum within a sealed glass or metal container and which has various uses based on the controlled flow of electrons

More from Merriam-Webster on vacuum tube

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