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

Dynamic systems moving from something like a transistor, which can be a zero and a one, to a multi-state chaotic or the border of chaos system that is ultimately best modeled probabilistically, is quite a mind shift. —Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2025

Compact radios styled after 1970s transistor models now double as smart speakers. —Dave Smith, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2025

The Milwaukee Radio Alliance has gotten out of the business, with Civic Media, a Wisconsin news/progressive-talk radio network, buying WZTI-AM (1290), the Milwaukee oldies station that has been known as Fonz MKE, plus two FM transistors last month. —Piet Levy, jsonline.com, 14 Oct. 2025

Tim loved math, the outdoors, and building electronics with transistors. —Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2025

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