ignitron

noun

ig·​ni·​tron ig-ˈnī-ˌträn How to pronounce ignitron (audio)
: a mercury-containing rectifier tube in which the arc is struck again at the beginning of each cycle by a special electrode separately energized by an auxiliary circuit

Word History

Etymology

Latin ignis fire + English -tron

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ignitron was in 1933

Dictionary Entries Near ignitron

Cite this Entry

“Ignitron.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ignitron. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.

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