What does "semiconductor" mean?

1. (the material) a material, like silicon, that allows electricity to flow through it only under certain conditions. 2. (electronic component) a tiny electronic part or computer chip made from semiconductor material.

How do you use "semiconductor"?

Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the substance itself. Used as a countable noun in this sense, often in the plural.

semiconductor

US //ˌsɛmaɪkənˈdəktɝ// UK //sˌɛmɪkəndˈʌktɐ// semi·con·duc·tor

1 the material (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Science

a material, like silicon, that allows electricity to flow through it only under certain conditions.

a solid substance that has a conductivity between that of an insulator and that of most metals, either due to the addition of an impurity or because of temperature effects.

Example

Silicon is the most common semiconductor used in the electronics industry today.

Example

The physical properties of a semiconductor can be precisely altered through a process called doping, which introduces specific impurities into the crystal lattice.

Usage

Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the substance itself.

Teacher's tip

While technically a material, in news and business contexts it almost always refers to the industry or the chips themselves.
- conductor
- insulator
2 electronic component (n.)
C1 Advanced Technical Computing

a tiny electronic part or computer chip made from semiconductor material.

an electronic device or integrated circuit composed of semiconductor material, such as a transistor or a microprocessor.

Example

The car factory had to stop production because they couldn't get enough semiconductors.

Example

Global supply chains were severely disrupted when the demand for semiconductors outpaced the manufacturing capacity of the world's leading foundries.

Usage

Used as a countable noun in this sense, often in the plural.
- chip
- microchip
- integrated circuit

Origin

From semi- + conductor.