semiconductor

[ sem-ee-kuhn-duhk-ter, sem-ahy- ]

noun

1. a substance, as silicon or germanium, with electrical conductivity intermediate between that of an insulator and a conductor: a basic component of various kinds of electronic circuit element semiconductor device used in communications, control, and detection technology and in computers.
2. a semiconductor device.

semiconductor

/ ˌsɛmɪkənˈdʌktə /

noun

1. a substance, such as germanium or silicon, that has an electrical conductivity that increases with temperature and is intermediate between that of a metal and an insulator
2. 1. a device, such as a transistor or integrated circuit, that depends on the properties of such a substance
   2. ( as modifier )

      a semiconductor diode

semiconductor

/ sĕm′ē-kən-dŭk′tər /

1. Any of various solid substances, such as silicon or germanium, that conduct electricity more easily than insulators but less easily than conductors. In semiconductors, thermal energy is enough to cause a small number of electrons to escape from the valence bonds between the atoms (the valence band ); they orbit instead in the higher-energy conduction band , in which they are relatively free. The resulting gaps in the valence band are called holes . Semiconductors are vital to the design of electronic components and circuitry, including transistors, laser diodes, and memory and computer processing circuits.

semiconductor

1. A material that conducts ( see conduction ) electricity , but very poorly. Silicon is the most common and familiar semiconductor. Devices made from semiconductors, such as the transistor , are the basis of the modern microelectric industry.

Derived Forms

• ˌsemiconˈduction, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of semiconductor¹

First recorded in 1875–80; semi- + conductor

Example Sentences

Crystals are the building blocks that make up many over-the-counter and prescription drugs, insecticides to fight mosquitoes, explosives such as TNT, semiconductors, and light-emitting technologies used in television screens and cell phones.

From Science Daily

The handful of hotels in the city are more likely to be booked up by businesspeople from Taiwan and South Korea visiting the nearby semiconductor factories.

From Los Angeles Times

But Trump’s contradictory claims — including criticizing Taiwan’s semiconductor industry for taking American jobs and declaring that the island democracy should pay for U.S. protection — have turned some against him.

From Los Angeles Times

Biden has also signed off other protectionist policies, such as on historic government spending to boost manufacturing in sectors such as semiconductors and green energy.

From BBC

Of the many manufacturing jobs the U.S. has lost to countries with lower production costs over decades, semiconductor manufacturing is making a strong comeback.

From Salon