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, Broadcom’s co-packaged silicon photonics technology strategically positions it to fulfill the needs of next-generation AI infrastructure. —Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025

Yet for all its sheer matter—steel, glass, silver, aluminum, copper, ferroconcrete, silicon—the observatory seems to lift off into a mytho-poetic dimension. —Michael Jones McKean, The Atlantic, 23 June 2025

If 2023 was defined by authors suing AI firms and 2024 was marked by a bunch of media outfits doing the same, 2025 could shape up as the year the studios confront the silicon. —Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 12 June 2025

Thanks to gallium nitride technology rather than the less efficient traditional silicon technology, the new charger can simultaneously supply six devices with up to 500W of power shared across six USB ports. —Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025

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