field-effect transistor

American  

[feeld-i-fekt] / ˈfild ɪˌfɛkt /

noun

Electronics.

1. a transistor in which the output current is varied by varying the value of an electric field within a region of the device. FET

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field-effect transistor British  

noun

1.  FET.  a unipolar transistor consisting of three or more electrode regions, the source, one or more gates, and the drain. A current flowing in a channel between the highly doped source and drain is controlled by the electric field arising from a voltage applied between source and gate See also JFET IGFET

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field effect transistor Scientific  

1. A type of transistor, usually made of semiconductors, in which the flow of current from a source on one side to a drain on the other is regulated by the strength of an electric field. This field is produced by a voltage at a third point called the gate, which effectively squeezes or opens the channel to the flow of current. Field effect transistors are especially useful for amplifying or switching very low power signals, as found in portable wireless technology, microprocessors, and digital memory circuits.

2. Compare bipolar transistor

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Etymology

Origin of field-effect transistor

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

We report on a transistor that uses an embedded tunneling field-effect transistor for charging and discharging the semi-floating gate.

From Science Magazine

That work involved a design called a finFET, for fin field-effect transistor, which uses a finlike structure instead of the conventional flat design.

From US News