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
As scaling down transistors gets more and more difficult, the semiconductor industry is turning toward 3D stacking of chips to keep up the density gains.
—
Anna Herr, IEEE Spectrum, 15 May 2024
In simplest terms, the M4 has the same number of performance cores but packs more efficiency cores, more GPU cores, and 3 billion more transistors.
—Eric Zeman, PCMAG, 15 May 2024
Back in 1965, Gordon Moore, a computer engineer who later became CEO of chipmaker Intel, predicted the number of transistors on a chip — and therefore the chip’s computing power — would double every year.
—Peter Green, Quartz, 11 May 2024
The new chip is built on a second-generation three-nanometer process, packing more transistors into a smaller space, enhancing both power efficiency and speed.
—Brenda Stolyar, WIRED, 7 May 2024
Another important feature of the Ryzen Pro 8000 chips is the use of TSMC’s 4-nanometer manufacturing process to cram more transistors on the chips—an upgrade from the 5-nanometer process AMD has been using for the Ryzen 7000 series on desktops and mobile.
—Michael Kan, PCMAG, 16 Apr. 2024
To build the most advanced chips, TSMC fits billions of these transistors onto silicon wafers.
—Dylan Sloan, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024
These two nodes bring the next generation of transistor technology, nanosheets, with backside power delivery, a combination TSMC is not planning until 2026.
—IEEE Spectrum, 9 Apr. 2024
Tinier dimensions allow for more transistors in the same area.
—Russ Wiles, The Arizona Republic, 9 Apr. 2024
Anna Herr, IEEE Spectrum, 15 May 2024
In simplest terms, the M4 has the same number of performance cores but packs more efficiency cores, more GPU cores, and 3 billion more transistors.
—Eric Zeman, PCMAG, 15 May 2024
Back in 1965, Gordon Moore, a computer engineer who later became CEO of chipmaker Intel, predicted the number of transistors on a chip — and therefore the chip’s computing power — would double every year.
—Peter Green, Quartz, 11 May 2024
The new chip is built on a second-generation three-nanometer process, packing more transistors into a smaller space, enhancing both power efficiency and speed.
—Brenda Stolyar, WIRED, 7 May 2024
Another important feature of the Ryzen Pro 8000 chips is the use of TSMC’s 4-nanometer manufacturing process to cram more transistors on the chips—an upgrade from the 5-nanometer process AMD has been using for the Ryzen 7000 series on desktops and mobile.
—Michael Kan, PCMAG, 16 Apr. 2024
To build the most advanced chips, TSMC fits billions of these transistors onto silicon wafers.
—Dylan Sloan, Fortune, 10 Apr. 2024
These two nodes bring the next generation of transistor technology, nanosheets, with backside power delivery, a combination TSMC is not planning until 2026.
—IEEE Spectrum, 9 Apr. 2024
Tinier dimensions allow for more transistors in the same area.
—Russ Wiles, The Arizona Republic, 9 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'transistor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near transistor
Cite this Entry
“Transistor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transistor. Accessed 20 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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