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

Tinier dimensions allow for more transistors in the same area. —Russ Wiles, The Arizona Republic, 9 Apr. 2024

But the quantum-interference transistor can switch hundreds of thousands of times without getting damaged. —IEEE Spectrum, 29 Mar. 2024

In a world dominated by Moore’s Law — the idea that the number of transistors on microchips would double every two years — speed is of the essence for TSMC and its customers, including Apple (AAPL), Nvidia (NVDA) and AMD (AMD). —Eric Cheung, CNN, 22 Mar. 2024

The Blackwell computing platform includes the new B200 chip, made up of 208 billion transistors. —Vinamrata Chaturvedi, Quartz, 28 Mar. 2024

For reference, a single though dual die Blackwell GPU is comprised of some 208 billion transistors, more than 2.5X that of Nvidia’s Hopper architecture. —Dave Altavilla, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024

The Blackwell chips, which are made up of 208 billion transistors, will be the basis of new computers and other products being deployed by the world’s largest data center operators — a roster that includes Amazon.com Inc., Microsoft Corp., Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Oracle Corp. —Ian King, Fortune, 18 Mar. 2024

All in all, these new transistors perform roughly as well as state-of-the-art flexible transistors that combine carbon nanotubes, metal oxides, or polycrystalline silicon with plastic films. —IEEE Spectrum, 17 Mar. 2024

In a major strategy shift, GlobalFoundries in 2018 decided to stop the costly practice of developing new production processes that pack more transistors on each piece of silicon. —Don Clark, New York Times, 19 Feb. 2024

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

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