transistor
A three terminal {semiconductor} amplifying
device, the fundamental component of most active electronic
circuits, including digital electronics. The transistor was
invented on 1947-12-23 at {Bell Labs}.
There are two kinds, the {bipolar transistor} (also called the
junction transistor), and the {field effect transistor} (FET).
Transistors and other components are interconnected to make
complex {integrated circuit}s such as {logic gate}s,
{microprocessor}s and memory.
(1995-10-05)