Meaning & use

semiconductor

noun·Academic

A material, such as silicon, whose electrical conductivity falls between that of a conductor and an insulator, used in electronics.

See it in a sentence

Modern computer chips are built from thin layers of semiconductor material like silicon.

A global shortage of semiconductors delayed the production of new cars and phones.

A note on using this word

Semiconductor conductivity can be controlled by adding impurities, a process called doping, which underlies most electronics.

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