1. A type of gas-filled electronic tube used as a switch or rectifier in electrical circuits, containing an igniter electrode that initiates conduction.
Usage: technical; electronics; largely historical; less common in modern applications

Examples

• The ignitron was widely used in industrial power control systems during the mid-20th century.
• Engineers selected an ignitron for the high-voltage switching application because of its reliability.
• The ignitron tube contained mercury vapor and required careful handling.
• Modern semiconductor switches have largely replaced the ignitron in contemporary circuit design.