[tran-zis-ter] 
| 1. | Electronics. a semiconductor device that amplifies, oscillates, or switches the flow of current between two terminals by varying the current or voltage between one of the terminals and a third: although much smaller in size than a vacuum tube, it performs similar functions without requiring current to heat a cathode. |
| 2. | Informal. a transistorized radio. |
| 3. | Informal. transistorized: a transistor radio. |
| tran·sis·tor (trān-zĭs'tər, -sĭs'-) n.
[trans(fer) + (res)istor.] |
An electronic device that can work as an amplifier, transforming weak electrical signals into strong ones. It is normally made from silicon or other semiconductors.
Note: The transistor is the basic device used in miniaturized electronic systems, such as portable radios, or as a fast switch in computers.
transistor electronics
A three terminal semiconductor amplifying device, the fundamental component of most active electronic circuits, including digital electronics. The transistor was invented on 1947-12-23 at Bell Labs.
There are two kinds, the bipolar transistor (also called the junction transistor), and the field effect transistor (FET).
Transistors and other components are interconnected to make complex integrated circuits such as logic gates, microprocessors and memory.
(1995-10-05)
tər