Meaning & use
thermistor
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountabletechnicalspecialist
A small electronic part whose resistance changes in a predictable way as its temperature changes, used to measure or control heat.
Grammar: Countable: a thermistor, two thermistors.
Patterns
- a thermistor
- thermistor resistance
- use a thermistor to do something
- a thermistor sensor
The circuit uses a thermistor to keep the battery from overheating.
As the room warmed up, the thermistor's resistance dropped and the fan turned on.
Engineers replaced the broken thermistor in the temperature control unit.
Word forms
| plural | thermistors |
|---|
Common combinations
- thermistor resistance
- The thermistor resistance falls as temperature rises.
- thermistor sensor
- A thermistor sensor gives a fast response to temperature changes.
- connect a thermistor
- Connect the thermistor to the analog input pin.
- thermistor thermometer
- Digital thermometers often contain a thermistor.
Synonyms and how they differ
- temperature sensor
- A general term for any device that senses heat; a thermistor is one specific type.
Word family
- thermal adjective
- Connected with heat.
- thermometry noun
- The science or practice of measuring temperature.
Commonly confused: thermistor or thermometer? thermistor or transistor?
thermistor vs thermometer
A thermometer shows a temperature reading, while a thermistor is a component that changes resistance with heat and usually feeds a circuit.
thermistor vs transistor
A transistor amplifies or switches electrical signals; a thermistor senses temperature.
Practice
A thermistor is most useful when you need to ______.
Choose one answer.
A thermistor changes resistance with temperature, so it is used to measure heat electronically. Amplifying signals is done by a transistor, storing energy by a battery or capacitor, and displaying text by a screen.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “thermistor”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.