thermistor

American  

[ther-mis-ter, thur-muh-ster] / θərˈmɪs tər, ˈθɜr mə stər /

noun

Electronics.

1. a resistor whose action depends upon changes of its resistance material with changes in temperature.

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thermistor British  

/ θɜːˈmɪstə /

noun

1. a semiconductor device having a resistance that decreases rapidly with an increase in temperature. It is used for temperature measurement, to compensate for temperature variations in a circuit, etc

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thermistor Scientific  

/ thûr′mĭs′tər /

1. A resistor whose resistance varies as a function of temperature. Thermistors are used in electrical devices such as thermometers and thermostats that measure, monitor, or regulate temperature.

2. See more at resistor

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Etymology

Origin of thermistor

First recorded in 1935–40; therm- + (res)istor

Example Sentences

A temperature-dependent resistor, or thermistor, senses the temperature, which controls the smell’s intensity.

From Scientific American • May 9, 2023

One of the most common is the thermistor, a semiconductor crystal with a strong temperature dependence, the resistance of which is measured to obtain its temperature.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

This is done with a tiny "thermistor," whose resistance to current put out by the satellite's batteries varies with temperature.

From Time Magazine Archive