silicon
noun
sil·i·con
ˈsi-li-kən 
ˈsi-lə-ˌkän
ˈsi-lə-ˌkän
: 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
Some choose a relatively straightforward surgical procedure using implants filled with silicon or another gel.
—
T. Christian Miller, ProPublica, 12 Apr. 2025
Apple's shift to in-house silicon from Intel processors has revolutionized its hardware, with each new iteration delivering faster and more stable performance.
—K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 11 Apr. 2025
Most of my career has been spent in chip design (silicon, not chocolate).
—Sam Corbin, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Apple has reportedly been developing a silicon photonics chip that uses optical absorption spectroscopy to shine light from a laser under the skin to determine the concentration of glucose in the body.
—Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for silicon
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T. Christian Miller, ProPublica, 12 Apr. 2025
Apple's shift to in-house silicon from Intel processors has revolutionized its hardware, with each new iteration delivering faster and more stable performance.
—K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 11 Apr. 2025
Most of my career has been spent in chip design (silicon, not chocolate).
—Sam Corbin, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Apple has reportedly been developing a silicon photonics chip that uses optical absorption spectroscopy to shine light from a laser under the skin to determine the concentration of glucose in the body.
—Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for silicon
Cite this Entry
“Silicon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/silicon. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
silicon
noun
sil·i·con
ˈsil-i-kən
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
ˈsil-ə-ˌkän
ˈsil-ə-ˌkän
: 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
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