semiconductor diode
- noun
- /ˌsɛmɪˈkɒndʌktər ˈdaɪoʊd/
- Specialized
:
diodo semiconductor
- A semiconductor diode is essential for converting alternating current into direct current in electronic circuits.
Examples
-
Instantaneously, the positive and negative electrical charges redistribute, establishing internal electric fields that determine, in part, the properties of the semiconductor diode.
Academic text (1993) -
The engineer explained how the semiconductor diode allows current to flow in only one direction.
-
In the lab, we tested the efficiency of the semiconductor diode by measuring its response to different voltage levels.
Synonyms
8
5.2
A small electronic part that lets electric current flow only one way
1
4.6
A small device that makes light when electricity flows through it, for example in traffic lights and screens
A small electronic part that lets electric current flow one way to make direct current
An electrical part that changes a two-way flow of electricity into a one-way flow for power supplies
A small electronic device that changes alternating current into direct current
A small electronic part that lets electricity flow in one direction when a metal point touches a crystal
A small electronic part that keeps voltage steady by letting current flow backwards at a set level
Antonyms
How Common
- Specialized
- Archaic
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and transparently derived from 'semiconductor' (a material with intermediate conductivity) and 'diode' (a device allowing current one way): it is simply a diode made from semiconductor material. This noun–noun compounding follows regular technical naming patterns and is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
Semiconductor diode comes from its parts: a semiconductor is a material that only partly lets electricity through, and a diode is a device that lets electricity go in one direction. So, imagine a small one-way gate for electric current made from that special material, and that is why a semiconductor diode means 'a device that allows current to flow in one direction only'.