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 OpenAI is reportedly in talks to raise at least $10 billion from Amazon and use its chips, as the e-commerce giant’s nascent semiconductor division looks to pick up steam. —Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 19 Dec. 2025

The analysts, who kept their hold rating, established 2027 estimates for their semiconductor and artificial intelligence coverage group. —Jim Cramer, CNBC, 19 Dec. 2025

Recently, the semiconductor company has expanded its AI partnerships, integrating Google’s Gemini models to deliver in‑car agentic AI assistants. —Nino Paoli, Fortune, 17 Dec. 2025

In the short term, Beijing’s priority is securing the concessions on advanced technology needed to accelerate semiconductor development in China and reduce reliance on imports. —Zongyuan Zoe Liu, Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025

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