phototransistor

P3H4O1T1O1T1R1A1N1S1I1S1T1O1R1

noun

Any semiconductor device whose electrical characteristics are light-sensitive.

OriginEnglish transistor ← Ancient Greek φωτο- (phōto-) ← Proto-Hellenic *pʰáwos →
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Meanings

nounphototransistor (plural phototransistors)

plural phototransistors

  1. businessAny semiconductor device whose electrical characteristics are light-sensitive.

    In some projects, the fiber optic cable will be mounted on the LEDs (D1, D6, D8, and on U22) or the phototransistor (Q4).

    2017 October 28, “Snap Circuits Light”, in Snap Circuits, Elenco, page 5

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*bʰeh₂-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*bʰéh₂os
  3. Proto-Hellenic*pʰáwos
  4. Ancient Greekφᾰ́ος (phắos)
  5. Ancient Greekφῶς (phôs)
  6. Ancient Greekφωτο- (phōto-)
  7. Englishphoto-
  8. Englishtransistor
  9. Englishphototransistor

From photo- + transistor.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan fototransistor
  • fototransistorsemiconductor
Finnish fototransistori
  • fototransistorisemiconductor
French phototransistor
  • phototransistorsemiconductor
German Fototransistor
  • Fototransistorsemiconductor
Polish fototranzystor
  • fototranzystorsemiconductor
Romanian fototranzistor
  • fototranzistorsemiconductor
Cite this entry
APA

phototransistor. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phototransistor

MLA

“phototransistor.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phototransistor. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “phototransistor,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/phototransistor.

Source: phototransistor on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.