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

Well, one element of it is Moore’s law – the doubling of transistors on a circuit that allows for smaller and smaller devices. —John Werner, Forbes.com, 8 May 2025

This should open a path toward using them in wearable sensors, flexible transistors, or even very small computers. —ArsTechnica, 1 May 2025

Terman also convinced Bell Labs’ William Shockley, who co-invented the transistor, to move to the Park (after his company was originally headquartered in Mountain View). —Mark Dent, HubSpot, 25 Apr. 2025

The lower nanometer count just means the transistors have become smaller, allowing more of them to be placed on the chip. —Ben Sin, Forbes, 15 Mar. 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