microchip

microchip — noun

1. a tiny flat piece of silicon that contains many electronic parts joined together

1.nounB1
Definition

a tiny flat piece of silicon that contains many electronic parts joined together as one circuit, allowing computers, phones, and other machines to process information and perform tasks.

Example

Every smartphone today contains hundreds of millions of tiny microchips.

collocation: contain + microchip for electronic devices

The factory in Taiwan produces microchips for car manufacturers around the world.

Common collocations
  • silicon microchip
  • microchip manufacturer
  • microchip design
  • contain a microchip
  • produce microchips
Synonyms
  • chip

    shorter, informal form; common in everyday speech

  • integrated circuit

    the full technical term; used in engineering contexts

  • semiconductor

    broader term for the material; a microchip is made from semiconductor material but the words are not interchangeable

Common Mistakes

A processor and a microchip are two different things.
A processor is a type of microchip designed to perform calculations.
a processor is one kind of microchip, not a separate category.

microchip — verb

Word family

  • microchipped
    adjectiveB2
  • microchipping
    nounB2
  • chip
    nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

"Chip" is the informal shortened form of microchip and by far the most common word in everyday English (e.g., "computer chip," "chip design"). "Integrated circuit" is the formal engineering term describing the complete electronic circuit on a single piece of silicon — it emphasizes the circuitry rather than the physical piece. "Semiconductor" is broader: it refers to the material itself (silicon, germanium) and any device made from it, not just chips. "Processor" (or "CPU") is a specific type of microchip whose job is to execute instructions — all processors are microchips, but not all microchips are processors. For everyday use, "chip" works in most situations; in technical writing, "integrated circuit" or "microchip" is more precise.

chip ↗integrated circuitsemiconductor ↗processor ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • microchip technology
  • microchip industry
  • microchip manufacturer
  • microchip design
  • microchip production
  • microchip shortage

Phrases

  • contain a microchip
  • implant a microchip
  • embed a microchip
  • design a microchip
  • produce microchips

Prepositions

  • with a microchip (fitted with a microchip)
  • microchip for (a microchip for medical devices)

Etymology

GreekOld EnglishEnglish

Formed by combining 'micro-' (from Greek 'mikros', meaning 'small') with 'chip' (from Old English 'cipp', meaning 'small piece of wood'). The term was first used in the 1960s when the electronics industry began miniaturizing circuits onto tiny silicon wafers, replacing larger individual components.