semiconductor

sem·i·con·duc·tor  (sm-kn-dktr, sm-)

n.

1. Any of various solid crystalline substances, such as germanium or silicon, having electrical conductivity greater than insulators but less than good conductors, and used especially as a base material for computer chips and other electronic devices.

2. An integrated circuit or other electronic component containing a semiconductor as a base material.

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semi·con·ducting adj.

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semiconductor [ˌsɛmɪkənˈdʌktə]

n

1. (Physics / General Physics) 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 The behaviour may be exhibited by the pure substance (intrinsic semiconductor) or as a result of impurities (extrinsic semiconductor)

2. (Electronics)

a.  a device, such as a transistor or integrated circuit, that depends on the properties of such a substance

b.  (as modifier) a semiconductor diode

semiconduction  n

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semiconductor  (sm-kn-dktr)

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.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	semiconductor - a substance as germanium or silicon whose electrical conductivity is intermediate between that of a metal and an insulator; its conductivity increases with temperature and in the presence of impurities semiconducting material semiconductor device, semiconductor unit, semiconductor - a conductor made with semiconducting material atomic number 32, Ge, germanium - a brittle grey crystalline element that is a semiconducting metalloid (resembling silicon) used in transistors; occurs in germanite and argyrodite atomic number 14, Si, silicon - a tetravalent nonmetallic element; next to oxygen it is the most abundant element in the earth's crust; occurs in clay and feldspar and granite and quartz and sand; used as a semiconductor in transistors conductor - a substance that readily conducts e.g. electricity and heat
	2.	semiconductor - a conductor made with semiconducting material semiconductor device, semiconductor unit micro chip, microchip, microprocessor chip, silicon chip, chip - electronic equipment consisting of a small crystal of a silicon semiconductor fabricated to carry out a number of electronic functions in an integrated circuit conductor - a device designed to transmit electricity, heat, etc. crystal rectifier, junction rectifier, semiconductor diode, diode - a semiconductor that consists of a p-n junction n-type semiconductor - a semiconductor in which electrical conduction is due chiefly to the movement of electrons p-type semiconductor - a semiconductor in which electrical conduction is due chiefly to the movement of positive holes thermal resistor, thermistor - a semiconductor device made of materials whose resistance varies as a function of temperature; can be used to compensate for temperature variation in other components of a circuit electronic transistor, junction transistor, transistor - a semiconductor device capable of amplification semiconducting material, semiconductor - a substance as germanium or silicon whose electrical conductivity is intermediate between that of a metal and an insulator; its conductivity increases with temperature and in the presence of impurities

Translations

semiconductor [ˌsemɪkənˈdʌktəʳ] N → semiconductor m

semiconductor [ˌsɛmikənˈdʌktə^r] n → semiconducteur m

semiconductor [ˌsɛmɪkənˈdʌktəʳ] n → semiconduttore m

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semiconductor [ˌsɛmɪkənˈdʌktəʳ] n → semiconduttore m