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Definition of transistor

transistor

/trænˈzɪs.tɚ/
tran · sis · tor
Plural:transistors
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transistor Lexical Profile

transistor Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A semiconductor device with at least three terminals, used to amplify or switch electrical signals and power.

Example

"The invention of the transistor revolutionized electronics by replacing bulky vacuum tubes with highly efficient microcomponents."

2

A small, portable radio receiver that utilizes solid-state circuitry rather than vacuum tubes.

Example

"During the summer of 1965, almost every teenager at the beach was listening to music on a battery-powered transistor."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for transistor

• Rhymes for transistor

• Nearby Words

transience
transient
transiently
transistor
transit
transition
transitional

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 1948 by American engineer John R. Pierce at Bell Labs as a portmanteau of the words 'transfer' and 'resistor', referencing its ability to transfer an electrical signal across a resistor.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Transistor. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/transistor
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