heat sink

2 definitions found

heat sink - WordNet (r) 2.1 (2005) :

  heat sink
      n 1: a metal conductor specially designed to conduct (and
           radiate) heat

heat sink - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  heat sink
  
     <hardware> /heet sink/ (from "sink", electronics jargon for
     something which takes in current) A piece of thermally
     conductive metal attached to a semiconductor or other
     electronic device and designed to prevent it from overheating
     by conducting heat away from it and radiating it to the
     environment.  Heat sinks often have fins to increase their
     surface area.  They occasionally have fans attached.  Heat
     sink compound can be smeared between the device and the heat
     sink to improve thermal conduction.
  
     (1997-06-10)