What does transistorise mean?
Transistorise means to convert an electronic device or circuit so that it uses transistors instead of vacuum tubes or valves. The verb is particularly associated with the mid-20th-century development of smaller, more portable and more reliable electronics: radios, amplifiers and other instruments that had once been valve-based could be transistorised, often eliminating the need for a warm-up period and reducing power consumption. In contemporary use, the word may sound historical or technical, and it is more common in British English, where the -ise spelling is preferred; the American spelling is usually "transistorize." Its principal significance lies in the transition from thermionic valves to semiconductor electronics. Saying that a manufacturer "transistorised" a product makes that technological change explicit, rather than merely describing the finished device as transistor-based.
verb (transitive)To convert a device or circuit so that it uses transistors instead of vacuum tubes or valves. The word is especially associated with the historical replacement of valve-based electronic equipment by transistor-based equipment.
- To convert an electronic device or circuit to use transistors in place of vacuum tubes or valves.
"The manufacturer decided to transistorise the radio before releasing it as a portable model."
"The engineer transistorised the amplifier, replacing its valves with compact semiconductor components."
"In the 1960s, manufacturers began to transistorise portable radios and other consumer electronics."
Before transistors, radios had to warm up; transistorise marks the switch to smaller, faster and more reliable electronics.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of transistorise
The verb was formed in the 20th century from "transistor" plus the British suffix "-ise," meaning to make or convert something into a specified form. "Transistor" itself was coined as a combination of "transfer" and "resistor," describing a device that transfers and controls electrical current through semiconductor materials. The resulting family of forms reflects the historical spread of transistor technology.
Related word forms
How transistorise is actually used
This is chiefly a British spelling; American English more commonly uses "transistorize." It is a technical and somewhat historical term, especially associated with the transition from valve-based to transistor-based electronics.
Easily confused with transistorise
A transistor is a semiconductor device that controls electrical signals, whereas transistorise is the verb for converting equipment to use transistors.