Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

transistor

/tɹænˈzɪs.tɚ/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.21 in modern English

Syllables: tran-sis-tor
IPA: /tɹænˈzɪs.tɚ/

10

Scrabble Score

10

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

A solid-state semiconductor device, with three terminals, which can be used for amplification, switching, voltage stabilization, signal modulation, and many other functions.

noun

A transistor radio.

Dated; Informal

Example Sentences

"Switches and transistors control the flow of electricity like valves and faucets control water. Resistors limit the flow of electricity. […] Light is transmitted from the color LED, through the fiber optic cable, to control the NPN transistor (Q2) and red LED (D1)."
"Turn your transistor on and let the music play"

Etymology

Blend of transfer + resistor. Said to have been coined by American engineer John Robinson Pierce in 1947, who used transresistance as the basis for forming transistor.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /tɹænˈzɪs.tɚ/

Usage

Inflected Forms

transistors (plural)

Derived Forms

barristor biotransistor FET heterotransistor nanotransistor phototransistor spacistor TFT thyristor transistorisation transistorise transistorization

Phrases

junction transistor pass transistor post-transistor silicon planar epitaxial transistor thin-film transistor transistor radio

Synonyms

junction transistor electronic transistor

Rhymes With

mr sister mister lister twister resistor blister pfister bicester fister lyster brister

Questions

How do you pronounce transistor?: The recorded pronunciation is /tɹænˈzɪs.tɚ/.
What does transistor mean?: A solid-state semiconductor device, with three terminals, which can be used for amplification, switching, voltage stabilization, signal modulation, and many other functions.
Where does transistor come from?: Blend of transfer + resistor. Said to have been coined by American engineer John Robinson Pierce in 1947, who used transresistance as the basis for forming transistor.

How to pronounce transistor

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “transistor”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/tɹænˈzɪs.tɚ/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “transistor”.
Repeat and practice — Say “transistor” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.