TechnologyJune 14, 2026
semiconductor
/ˌsemikənˈdʌktər/
Definition
A material, such as silicon, that has electrical conductivity between that of a conductor and an insulator, serving as the fundamental building block for modern microchips and electronic processing.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'semi-' (half) and 'conductor' (one that leads or conducts). It entered English in the mid-20th century to describe materials with intermediate electrical properties essential for transistors and computing.
In the news
In this article, semiconductors are mentioned as a critical, restricted high-technology sector subject to US export controls, highlighting their role as a strategic asset in the global AI competition.
US asks Anthropic to block global access to top AI models: Why it matters
Read the full article ↗Al Jazeera