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silicon
noun
sil·i·con
ˈsi-li-kən
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
The Yoga 9i 2-in-1 Aura Edition earns it this time with top-tier hardware construction and the latest, most potent silicon Intel has for AI processing.
—PCMAG, 10 Jan. 2025
There are five phones in the Note 14 line, ranging from the 4G-only Note 14 up to the Note 14 Pro Plus 5G, the only phone in the series powered by the Snapdragon silicon.
—Dominic Preston, The Verge, 10 Jan. 2025
Arya said the bank is expecting updates on Nvidia’s robotics strategy, such as its Jetson Thor robot computer, which would leverage its silicon and software capabilities for physical AI.
—Britney Nguyen, Quartz, 6 Jan. 2025
These were essentially the same silicon that AMD was putting in high-end thin-and-light laptops but tuned specifically for handheld gaming PCs like the Steam Deck and Asus ROG Ally X.
—Ars Technica, 6 Jan. 2025
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Word History
Etymology
New Latin silica + English -on (as in carbon)
First Known Use
1814, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing silicon
Dictionary Entries Near silicon
Cite this Entry
“Silicon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/silicon. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Kids 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
: 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
Nglish: Translation of silicon for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about silicon
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