SOLID STATE
\sˈɒlɪd stˈe͡ɪt], \sˈɒlɪd stˈeɪt], \s_ˈɒ_l_ɪ_d s_t_ˈeɪ_t]\
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(Often hyphenated when used as an adjective) Aterm describing any device that uses semiconductorcomponents rather than electron tubes or relays.Semiconductors are "solid" in that they contain no gas ("vacuum" tubes contain a small amount as the vacuum is notperfect) or moving parts (like relays), but probably moreimportant is the connotation of reliability and durabilitythat made possible things like portable radios.
By Denis Howe
Word of the day
basidiomycota
- comprises fungi bearing the spores on basidium: Gasteromycetes (puffballs); Tiliomycetes (comprising orders Ustilaginales (smuts) and Uredinales (rusts)); Hymenomycetes (mushrooms; toadstools; agarics; bracket fungi); in some classification systems considered a division of kingdom comprises fungi bearing spores on a basidium; includes Gasteromycetes (puffballs) Tiliomycetes comprising the orders Ustilaginales (smuts) and Uredinales (rusts) Hymenomycetes (mushrooms, toadstools, agarics bracket fungi).