phototransistor

noun

pho·​to·​tran·​sis·​tor ˌfō-tō-tran-ˈzi-stər 

-tran(t)-ˈsi-

: a photoconductive semiconductor device used especially as a photodetector

Examples of phototransistor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

By doing so, the phototransistor flags changes and patterns of interest. — Tereza Pultarova, IEEE Spectrum, 7 July 2026

The capsule has tiny phototransistors that send the light information to a microprocessor, which broadcasts it wirelessly to a computer or smartphone. — Sean Rossman, USA TODAY, 25 May 2018

Not much, but enough for a custom phototransistor to capture it and relay that information to a microprocessor—which sent the signal to an Android app developed by an undergraduate engineering student. — Megan Molteni, WIRED, 24 May 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for phototransistor

• blister
• lyster
• mister
• sister
• twister
• resister
• resistor
• stepsister
• transistor