thyratron

[ thahy-ruh-tron ]

noun

, Electronics.

1. a gas-filled, hot-cathode tube in which one or more control electrodes initiate, but do not limit and cannot interrupt, the flow of electrons.

thyratron

/ ˈθaɪrəˌtrɒn /

noun

1. electronics a gas-filled tube that has three electrodes and can be switched between an `off' state and an `on' state. It has been superseded, except for application involving high-power switching, by the thyristor

Word History and Origins

Origin of thyratron¹

1925–30; < Greek thýra door + -tron

Word History and Origins

Origin of thyratron¹

C20: originally a trademark, from Greek thura door, valve + -tron

Example Sentences

The casual amateur is the one who takes a picture of his baby from 20 feet away, forgets to wind his film, and cannot tell a thyratron from a r�seau.�

From Time Magazine Archive