solid-state

/ˌsɒlɪd ˈsteɪt/ (bre, ipa) · [sˈɑlədstˈet] /ˌsɑːlɪd ˈsteɪt/ (ame, ipa) · [sˈɑlədstˈet] /ˌsä-ləd-ˈstāt How to pronounce solid-state (audio)/ (ame, mw)

solid-state — adjective

1. describing electronic equipment that carries current through solid parts such as

1.形容詞C1
釋義

describing electronic equipment that carries current through solid parts such as chips, rather than through vacuum tubes.

例句

The museum replaced its tube radio with a solid-state model in 1978.

solid-state + model/device noun

Christopher opened the solid-state drive and pointed to the memory chips.

solid-state + drive

同義詞
  • semiconductor

    highlights the material used inside the device more directly

  • transistorized

    older label often used when contrasting with vacuum-tube equipment

反義詞
  • vacuum-tube

    describes older equipment that uses tubes instead of solid components

文法句型

solid-state + [device noun]

用法筆記

Most often appears before nouns naming devices or parts, such as drive, memory, amplifier, or relay. It contrasts with older vacuum-tube technology, not with a machine's size or weight.

常見錯誤

❌The radio is solid state.
✅The radio is solid-state.
💡keep the hyphen in this compound adjective.
❌A solid-state lamp is called that because it feels hard.
✅A solid-state lamp is called that because it uses electronic parts made from solid material.
💡the term describes the electronic design, not simply something non-soft.

2. connected with how solid materials are built, behave, or react, especially when

2.形容詞C1
釋義

connected with how solid materials are built, behave, or react, especially when scientists study their electrical, magnetic, or chemical behavior.

例句

Wei studies solid-state physics to understand how crystals carry heat.

solid-state + physics

The professor taught a solid-state chemistry unit about battery materials.

solid-state + chemistry

同義詞
  • materials

    broader and more general; not limited to solids

  • crystalline

    narrower because it focuses on crystal structure rather than all solids

反義詞
  • liquid-state

    would refer to materials studied in their liquid form instead of as solids

文法句型

solid-state + [science/material noun]

用法筆記

Usually appears in academic or technical phrases such as solid-state physics, chemistry, or reaction. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense names the study or properties of solids, not a consumer device built with chips.

常見錯誤

❌The course is about solid-state machines.
✅The course is about solid-state physics.
💡this sense usually names a scientific field or the behavior of materials, not ordinary machines.
❌Solid-state chemistry studies liquids too.
✅Solid-state chemistry studies solid materials such as crystals, metals, or semiconductors.
💡use it for solids rather than for matter in general.