/sem'ee keuhn duk"teuhr, sem'uy-/ , n.
1. a substance, as silicon or germanium, with electrical conductivity intermediate between that of an insulator and a conductor: a basic component of various kinds of electronic circuit element (semiconductor device) used in communications, control, and detection technology and in computers.
2. a semiconductor device.
[ 1875-80; SEMI- + CONDUCTOR ]