heat sink

noun

1. Thermodynamics.,  any environment or medium that absorbs heat.

2. Electronics.,  Also heatsink a metallic heat exchanger designed to absorb and dissipate excess heat from one of the devices, as a transistor or resistor, in a circuit.

heat sink

noun

1. a metal plate specially designed to conduct and radiate heat from an electrical component

2. a layer of material placed within the outer skin of high-speed aircraft to absorb heat

heat sink

1. A protective device that absorbs and dissipates the excess heat generated by a system.

2. An environment capable of absorbing heat from substances within it (and with which it is in thermal contact) without an appreciable change in its own temperature and without a change in its own phase.

heat sink

1. A reservoir for excess heat, especially in a mechanical or electrical device.

One obstacle to the loading of circuits onto microprocessors is the heat generated by electrical circuits. Effective heat sinks, such as metal fins on top of a microprocessor, can provide part of the solution to this problem.

Word History and Origins

Origin of heat sink¹

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Another growing use case is in data centers, where aluminum is used in heat sinks, cooling systems and the structures themselves.

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Green, well-maintained plants can slow the spread of a fire by serving as heat sinks, absorbing energy and even blocking embers.

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The paper states: "The cluster mantle does not meet any the four insulation criteria identified and meets all three heat sink criteria."

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Conventional heat sinks passively draw heat away from hotspots, but it has remained a challenge to find a more dynamic control to actively regulate heat.

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This layer of thinset acts as a heat sink and helps to ensure the temperature of the floor is distributed evenly, so that no matter where your foot steps, the floor is toasty warm.

Read more on Seattle Times