silicon

noun

sil·​i·​con ˈsi-li-kən How to pronounce silicon (audio) ˈsi-lə-ˌkän How to pronounce silicon (audio)
: a tetravalent nonmetallic element with atomic number 14 that occurs combined as the most abundant element next to oxygen in the earth's crust and is used especially in semiconductors, in ferrosilicon for steelmaking, and in other alloys
often used before another noun
silicon chips
silicon carbide
see Chemical Elements Table

Examples of silicon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The silicon tip in most earbuds act as ear plugs of sorts, which help seal off sound. Ben Sin, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024 So, the researchers diverged from the traditional method of combining a thermal absorber layer with a PV cell and combined a silicon solar cell with an innovative molecular solar thermal energy storage system, abbreviated to MOST. New Atlas, 26 Sep. 2024 This is a review of Intel's newest mobile silicon by way of an Asus Zenbook UX5406S with a Core Ultra 7 258V provided by Intel, not a chronicle of Intel's manufacturing decline and ongoing financial woes. Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica, 25 Sep. 2024 But Lunar Resources believes that robots carrying its tools could one day roam the surface of the moon, first to mine aluminum and silicon from moon rocks, and then to manufacture antennas, electrical lines, solar cells, and possibly batteries that can last through the two-week lunar night. Matthew Hutson, The New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for silicon 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'silicon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin silica + English -on (as in carbon)

First Known Use

1814, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of silicon was in 1814

Dictionary Entries Near silicon

Cite this Entry

“Silicon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/silicon. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

silicon

noun
sil·​i·​con ˈsil-i-kən How to pronounce silicon (audio)
ˈsil-ə-ˌkän
: a nonmetallic element that occurs combined as the most abundant element after oxygen in the earth's crust and is used especially in alloys and electronic devices see element

Medical Definition

silicon

noun
sil·​i·​con ˈsil-i-kən How to pronounce silicon (audio) ˈsil-ə-ˌkän How to pronounce silicon (audio)
: a tetravalent nonmetallic element that occurs combined as the most abundant element next to oxygen in the earth's crust and is used especially in alloys
symbol Si
see Chemical Elements Table

More from Merriam-Webster on silicon

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