Definition

1. Noun:
   • A conductor made with semiconducting material: A device, such as a transistor or integrated circuit, that is fabricated from a material with semiconducting properties and is used to control electrical current.
   • A substance whose electrical conductivity is intermediate between that of a metal and an insulator: A material, such as silicon or germanium, which conducts electricity more effectively than an insulator but less effectively than a pure conductor. Its conductivity can be increased by raising its temperature or by adding specific impurities.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The modern computer industry is built on the silicon semiconductor.
  • Germanium was one of the first materials used as a semiconductor in early transistors.
  • The factory specializes in the production of semiconductor chips for consumer electronics.

Advanced Usage

• "Semiconductor industry": The economic sector concerned with the research, design, and manufacture of semiconductor devices and components.
  • He works in the semiconductor industry, developing new microprocessors.
• "Semiconductor physics": The branch of physics that studies the properties and behavior of semiconductors.
  • Her research focuses on semiconductor physics and quantum dots.

Variants and Related Words

• Semiconducting (adjective): Having the properties of a semiconductor.
  • The semiconducting material was carefully purified.
• Semiconductor device (noun phrase): An electronic component made from semiconductor material.
  • A diode is a common type of semiconductor device.

Synonyms

• Chip (specifically for an integrated circuit).
• Microchip.
• Solid-state device (a device that uses semiconductors and has no moving parts).

Related Phrases

• Band gap (noun phrase): In semiconductor physics, the energy difference between the valence band and the conduction band, a key property determining electrical conductivity.
  • The band gap of this semiconductor is ideal for solar cell applications.
• Doping (noun): The intentional introduction of impurities into a semiconductor to modify its electrical properties.
  • The process of doping is essential for creating p-type and n-type semiconductors.

Noun

1. a conductor made with semiconducting material
2. 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