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 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 Blower/vacuum tubes: Many handheld mulchers are three-in-one options that come with attached tubes that will blow and/or vacuum leaves. Rachel Ahrnsen, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Feb. 2024 Some stationary and walk-behind models also include vacuum tubes. Rachel Ahrnsen, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Feb. 2024 Fix the brush tool attachment onto your handheld vacuum tube and suck up the first layer of dust, pollen, and dirt. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 30 Nov. 2023 The cost of constructing a vacuum tube, a maglev system, a linear motor and a compressor is estimated to be billions of dollars. Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 15 Feb. 2024 Then, remove the vacuum tube and hold open the impeller door to remove any leftover debris from the impeller, checking the mulching blades for damage. Kat De Naoum, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Sep. 2023 In the twentieth century, Spruce Pine’s mica was mined to make windows for coal-burning stoves and insulation for vacuum tubes. Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2023 Designed around the company’s excellent 300b vacuum tubes and custom Tamura transformers, this is a quintessential SET amplifier in the spirit of other Japanese SETs from Air Tight, Luxman, and Shindo. Robert Ross, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2023

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 18 Apr. 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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