transistor

noun

tran·​sis·​tor tran-ˈzi-stər 

tran(t)-ˈsi-

1

: a solid-state electronic device that is used to control the flow of electricity in electronic equipment and usually consists of a small block of a semiconductor (such as germanium) with at least three electrodes

2

: a transistorized radio

Examples of transistor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Instead of adding more components, the researchers redesigned the transistor itself to handle multiple functions simultaneously. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 5 June 2026

The bundle of 10,000 sodium atoms, about the size of a modern transistor gate, is an order of magnitude larger than previous records, but still significantly smaller than Erwin Schrödinger’s pet cat. —Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 29 May 2026

Quadruple patterning is a technique for etching lines on silicon wafers multiple times to increase transistor density — and therefore performance. —Bloomberg, Fortune, 25 May 2026

Huawei said Monday at a tech conference in Shanghai that by 2031, its high-end chips would have transistor density equivalent to 1.4-nanometer processes, which is considered the industry’s cutting edge. —Janis MacKey Frayer, NBC news, 25 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

trans- + (re)sist(ance) entry 1 + -or entry 1

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing transistor

• field-effect transistor
• transistor radio

Rhymes for transistor

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

Kids Definition

transistor

noun

tran·​sis·​tor tranz-ˈis-tər 

tran(t)s-

1

: an electronic device that consists of a small block of a semiconductor (as germanium) with at least three electrodes and is used to control the flow of electricity in electronic equipment (as a radio or computer)

2

: a radio having transistors

called also transistor radio

Medical Definition

transistor

noun

tran·​sis·​tor tranz-ˈis-tər, tran(t)s- 

: a solid-state electronic device that is used to control the flow of electricity in electronic equipment and consists of a small block of a semiconductor (as germanium) with at least three electrodes