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

Moreover, big tech players like Google - one of Nvidia’s biggest customers - are developing their own AI and machine learning silicon. —Trefis Team, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024

The major challenge is that semiconductors, which are traditionally made of pure silicon and cut into thin wafers to be made into chips for gadgets, are extremely fragile. —New Atlas, 21 Oct. 2024

An atom of silicon is 0.21 nanometers wide, for example. —Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 12 Oct. 2024

The polysilicon is then used to create silicon wafers — the foundation of the semiconductors found in phones, laptops, solar panels, and more. —Emma Roth, The Verge, 1 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1814, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing silicon

• silicon carbide
• silicon dioxide
• silicon nitride

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