heat sink

n.1. An environment capable of absorbing heat from an object with which it is in thermal contact without a phase change or an appreciable change in temperature.2. A protective device that absorbs and dissipates the excess heat generated by a system.

heat sink

n 1. (Electrical Engineering) a metal plate specially designed to conduct and radiate heat from an electrical component 2. (Aeronautics) a layer of material placed within the outer skin of high-speed aircraft to absorb heat

heat′ sink`

n. an environment or medium that absorbs excess heat, as in an electronic circuit. [1935–40]

Thesaurus

Noun

heat sink - a metal conductor specially designed to conduct (and radiate) heatconductor - a device designed to transmit electricity, heat, etc.sink - (technology) a process that acts to absorb or remove energy or a substance from a system; "the ocean is a sink for carbon dioxide"

heat sink

(hardware)/heet sink/ (from "sink", electronics jargon forsomething which takes in current) A piece of thermallyconductive metal attached to a semiconductor or otherelectronic device and designed to prevent it from overheatingby conducting heat away from it and radiating it to theenvironment. Heat sinks often have fins to increase theirsurface area. They occasionally have fans attached. Heatsink compound can be smeared between the device and the heatsink to improve thermal conduction.

Heat sink

Where heat is dumped by an air conditioner or by a heat pump used in cooling mode; usually the outdoor air or ground.

heat sink

The medium or environment where heat is discharged after it has been removed from a heat source; usually the atmosphere or a body of water.

heat sink

Heat sink.A piece of heavy metal or a plastic on which electrical components are mounted. Heat generated by these components is transferred to a heat sink by conduction and then dissipated into the surrounding air. A heat sink may have fins to increase its cooling area.

heat sink

A material that absorbs heat. Typically made of aluminum, heat sinks are widely used in amplifiers and other electronic devices that build up heat. Small heat sinks are the most economical method for cooling microprocessors and other chips. They are commonly found glued or clipped to the top or the side of the chip package. See heat pipe, CPU cooler and thermal grease.

Heat Sink on a Chip

This type of heat sink is glued to the top of the chip, typically a CPU chip, which generates considerable heat.

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Words related to heat sink

noun a metal conductor specially designed to conduct (and radiate) heat

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