semiconductor

noun

semi·​con·​duc·​tor ˌse-mē-kən-ˈdək-tər 

ˌse-ˌmī-, 

-mi-

: any of a class of solids (such as germanium or silicon) whose electrical conductivity is between that of a conductor and that of an insulator in being nearly as great as that of a metal at high temperatures and nearly absent at low temperatures

Did you know?

A semiconductor is a crystal material whose ability to conduct electricity rises as its temperature goes up. That is, it sometimes acts as a conductor and sometimes as an insulator. Its conducting ability can be much increased by chemical treatment. A manufactured chip of silicon, less than half an inch square, may contain millions of microscopic transistors, which can serve control and memory functions when installed in a computer, automobile, cell phone, DVD player, or microwave oven.

Examples of semiconductor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And more broadly, semiconductors are the second-best performing sector in the S&P 500 Index this year. —Ryan Vlastelica, Bloomberg, 21 Apr. 2026

Meanwhile, Intel’s roughly $20 billion semiconductor project just outside Columbus is drawing talent, capital, and housing demand. —Sydney Lake, Fortune, 21 Apr. 2026

As the semiconductor industry searches for successors to silicon, the study suggests the next breakthrough may depend less on a single wonder material and more on engineering the interface between multiple layers. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 20 Apr. 2026

Onto Innovation — The maker of semiconductor process control equipment leapt more than 8% after preliminary first-quarter revenue handily beat Street estimates, and Stifel Financial upgraded Onto to buy from hold and raised its 12-month price target to $350. —Fred Imbert, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for semiconductor

• superconductor
• abductor
• conductor
• constructor
• destructor
• inductor
• instructor

Kids Definition

semiconductor

noun

semi·​con·​duc·​tor ˌsem-i-kən-ˈdək-tər 

ˌsem-ˌī-

: any of a class of solids (as germanium) that have an ability to conduct electricity between that of a conductor and that of an insulator

semiconducting

-tiŋ

adjective

Medical Definition

semiconductor

noun

semi·​con·​duc·​tor -kən-ˈdək-tər 

: any of a class of solids (as germanium or silicon) whose electrical conductivity is between that of a conductor and that of an insulator in being nearly as great as that of a metal at high temperatures and nearly absent at low temperatures