vacuum tube

noun

Definition of vacuum tube

: an electron tube evacuated to a high degree of vacuum

Examples of vacuum tube in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The amps most coveted by guitarists do this with vacuum tubes. — Kevin Dupzyk, Popular Mechanics, "What a Fender Amp Looks Like When You Tear It Apart," 24 Mar. 2015 And that posed a fresh challenge, since the tapes were analog and could only be played on a device called a SoundScriber that used old vacuum tube technology. — Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "Behind-the-scenes audio from Apollo 11 mission made public for first time," 12 Nov. 2018 And a vacuum tube RCA Victor TV, hidden behind the double doors of a mahogany cabinet. — Michelle Slatalla, WSJ, "Why You Should Redecorate Until You Kick the Bucket," 12 Nov. 2018 The Siphon Coffee Brewer is based on a vacuum tube style of making coffee first introduced in 1830. — John Wenz, Popular Mechanics, "This Retro Coffee Maker Brews a Pot With Vacuum Power," 17 Mar. 2015 Clearly the transistor was better than the vacuum tube. — Phil Lapsley, WSJ, "‘The Cryotron Files’ Review: Taking the Cold War to Subzero," 11 Oct. 2018 Hyperloop relies on vacuum tubes and special pods for faster-than-flight travel speeds, at times estimated at around 670 mph. — Dug Begley, Houston Chronicle, "Hyperloop's first step bypasses Houston," 11 July 2018 According to a press release describing the research, the team mimicked the formation of aliphatic carbon in interstellar space in the lab, expanding a carbon-containing plasma inside a vacuum tube at low temperature. — Jason Daley, Smithsonian, "Our Galaxy Is Really Greasy and Smells Like Moth Balls," 28 June 2018 In 1961, Wortell borrowed $4,000 to buy a machine that bends metal for vacuum tubes holders. — Brian Cox, chicagotribune.com, "Longtime Wilmette man celebrates 100th birthday," 12 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'vacuum tube.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near vacuum tube

vacuum-tube voltmeter

vacuum valve

vacuum ventilation

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The first known use of vacuum tube was in 1859

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More Definitions for vacuum tube

vacuum tube

noun

English Language Learners Definition of vacuum tube

US : a glass tube that was used in the past in computers, televisions, etc., to control the flow of electricity

See the full definition for vacuum tube in the English Language Learners Dictionary

vacuum tube

noun

Medical Definition of vacuum tube

: an electronic device in which conduction by electrons takes place through a vacuum within a sealed glass or metal container and which has various uses based on the controlled flow of electrons