A more thorough explanation:

Definition: A nixie is a type of electronic display tube that was used in the mid-20th century to display numbers or letters. It consists of a glass tube filled with a gas, usually neon, and has wire mesh or metal electrodes at each end. When a voltage is applied to the electrodes, the gas inside the tube ionizes and emits light, creating the desired number or letter.

Example: A common use of nixie tubes was in digital clocks and calculators in the 1960s and 1970s. Instead of using modern LED or LCD displays, these devices used nixie tubes to display the time or calculations.

Explanation: The example illustrates how nixie tubes were used in electronic devices to display information. The gas inside the tube would light up to show the numbers or letters, making it a simple and effective way to display information before the invention of modern displays.