electronic

1. of, concerned with, using, or operated by devices in which electrons are conducted through a semiconductor, free space, or gas

2. of or concerned with electronics

3. of or concerned with electrons or an electron

4. involving or concerned with the representation, storage, or transmission of information by electronic systems

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

electronic

[i‚lek′trän·ik]

(electronics)

Pertaining to electron devices or to circuits or systems utilizing electron devices, including electron tubes, magnetic amplifiers, transistors, and other devices that do the work of electron tubes.

electronic

No moving/mechanical parts. The term electronic implies that analog and/or digital circuits are used to provide a solution. Electricity (electrons) activate semiconductor elements that change their state, but all the movement is at atomic levels. Electronic systems also imply some form of decision making or "intelligence" as in all computer-based devices. See intelligence and electronics.

Electromechanical and Electrical
Computers, smartphones and tablets are examples of electronic devices, whereas a keyboard and mouse are electromechanical devices because they have moving parts (keys, buttons, scroll wheels). Electricity used as raw power for heat, light and motors is considered electrical, not electronic.

From "Electron Tube"
Although coined earlier, "Electronics" magazine (1930) popularized the term electronic. The magazine subheading read "Electron Tubes - Their Radio, Audio, Visio and Industrial Applications." The term was derived from the electron (vacuum) tube. See semiconductor, vacuum tube, hardware circuit, electron and electromechanical.

Copyright © 1981-2025 by The Computer Language Company Inc. All Rights reserved. THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY. All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher.