semiconductor

noun

semi·​con·​duc·​tor ˌse-mē-kən-ˈdək-tər How to pronounce semiconductor (audio)
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 The legislation won bipartisan support as lawmakers and officials grew alarmed that the United States was relying too heavily on Asia for its chips, also known as semiconductors. Jeanne Whalen, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 The traditional approach to chip fabrication involves doping—a deliberate contamination of the semiconductor material with certain foreign atoms. IEEE Spectrum, 18 Mar. 2024 The island produces the majority of the world’s advanced logic semiconductors, and any military escalations across the strait with China would be a heavy blow to the global supply chain. John Cheng, Fortune Asia, 18 Mar. 2024 During that time, the semiconductor sector has grown to dominate the company’s business in Malaysia. Patricia Cohen, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2024 The top-performing subsectors were retail, materials, and semiconductors. Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 The State Department wants to make sure the global semiconductor industry can withstand shocks and has tapped Arizona State University for help. The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2024 Apple’s pledge to push its suppliers to use clean energy could influence semiconductor manufacturers to implement more changes. Justine Calma, The Verge, 6 Mar. 2024 And between March 2019 and 2023 semiconductor job openings in the country increased 7 percent. IEEE Spectrum, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'semiconductor.' 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

1838, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of semiconductor was in 1838

Dictionary Entries Near semiconductor

Cite this Entry

“Semiconductor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/semiconductor. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

semiconductor

noun
semi·​con·​duc·​tor ˌsem-i-kən-ˈdək-tər How to pronounce semiconductor (audio)
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 How to pronounce semiconductor (audio)
: 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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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