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

The famous Moore’s Law said the number of transistors on a chip—basically transistor density—doubles every two years or so. —Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2024

If impure quartz is used, the outside materials can hamper the effectiveness of the transistor. —Olatunji Osho-Williams, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 Oct. 2024

Project manager Jordan Evans said the transistors — located in circuits across the entire spacecraft — are expected to degrade when Europa Clipper is exposed to the worst of the radiation during the 49 flybys of the moon. —Marcia Dunn, The Denver Post, 9 Sep. 2024

Though both versions of the Raspberry Pi 5 use a single LPDDR4X memory module, the lower capacity of the memory module on the 2GB version means far fewer power-hungry transistors in the memory chip. —PCMAG, 7 Sep. 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