silicon
38
4.7
- noun
- /ˈsɪlɪkən/
- Specialized
:
silicio
- Rather, the reasons for the success and eventual dominance of silicon technology were technological and chemical.
- silicon chip
- semiconductor-grade silicon
- silicon wafer
Now all that being said, the Apple Silicon Mac Pro is still coming.
- Now all that being said, the Apple Silicon Mac Pro is still coming.
- But we don't have silicon based life forms with us tonight.
- Like when like switching from Intel to Apple Silicon, it kind of took that leap.
Examples
-
Today we make microchips from silicon, which is common sand.
-
So eventually, we could be smelting aluminum from clay and smelting silicon from sand.
Academic text (2011) -
So it tells me that I should use the silicon part to start off with.
-
And these little silicon pads are part of the story.
-
I was in Houston working on some great new ideas about silicon.
-
Regardless of the approach, ultimately the cost of silicon solar cells will depend on the starting material.
Academic text (1993) -
Displays using polycrystalline silicon are currently in the research and development phase.
Academic text (1992) -
To increase the number of free electrons within the silicon, another element, such as phosphorus, is added to the silicon.
Academic text (2011) -
This is a new silicon-based kitchen lubricant my company's been working on.
-
The engineers used silicon to create new microchips for the latest smartphones.
Synonyms
5
4.6
A short letter used for silicon, the element used in computer chips
Compounds
4
3.5
A model for fast technology innovation and startup culture used in other places
- Specialized
3
3.7
A small, flat piece of material with tiny electronic parts that makes computers and phones work
1
6.9
An area around Old Street in East London with many technology companies and new startups
- Specialized
Bronze metal mixed with a little silicon that resists damage from seawater and is used for boat parts and sculptures
- Specialized
A very hard dark material used to cut and grind things and in some electronic parts
How Metallic
- Specialized
- Specialized
26
1.9
- Specialized
- Specialized
2
8.1
- Specialized
38
4.7
- Specialized
364
2.6
Surface Forms
Morphology
silicon = silic + on
The word is formed from the combining form 'silic-' (not a standalone English word) plus the chemical element suffix '-on', so an average B1 learner cannot derive the meaning from familiar base words.
Etymology
Silicon comes from the Latin silex meaning 'flint' or 'hard stone', and the -on ending is the same chemical ending you see in carbon. A helpful way to remember it is to think of silicon as the hard stuff in sand and rocks like flint, which is why we find it everywhere and use silicon in electronics and glass.