Noun
varistor (plural varistors)
(electronics) An electronic component having a variable resistance; used to protect circuits against power surges.
The device logically belongs in the varistor family, and has the transconductance or transfer impedance of a device having gain, so that this combination is descriptive. Source: Internet
This is an abbreviated combination of the words "transconductance" or "transfer", and "varistor". Source: Internet
However, in general, such effects were undesirable and telephone designers suppressed them by mechanical means with off-normal switches on the dial, or greatly attenuated them by electrical means with a varistor connected across the receiver. Source: Internet
One of the most widely used of these is the varistor. Source: Internet