photomask

noun

pho·​to·​mask ˈfō-tō-ˌmask How to pronounce photomask (audio)
plural photomasks
: a pattern of opaque material used to shield selected areas of a surface (as of a semiconductor) in deposition or etching (as in producing an integrated circuit) : mask sense 3d

Examples of photomask in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The filing details various risks, including dependency on a limited number of large customers, competition in the photomask industry, and potential impacts from international trade policies. — Quartz Bot, Quartz, 19 Dec. 2024 Based in Brookfield, Connecticut, the company makes photomasks — quartz plate containing microscopic images of electronic circuits, used in manufacturing semiconductor chips. — John Dorfman, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

photo- + mask entry 1

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of photomask was in 1963

Rhymes for photomask

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Browse Nearby Words

photomap
photomask
photomechanical
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Cite this Entry

“Photomask.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/photomask. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

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