varistor

[ va-ris-ter, vuh- ]
/ væˈrɪs tər, və- /

noun Electricity.

a resistor whose resistance automatically varies in proportion to the voltage of the current through it.

Origin of varistor

First recorded in 1940–45; var(iable) + (res)istor

British Dictionary definitions for varistor

varistor
/ (vəˈrɪstə) /

noun

a two-electrode semiconductor device having a voltage-dependent nonlinear resistance Compare varactor

Word Origin for varistor

C20: a blend of variable resistor