silicon

silicon — noun

1. a grey, hard natural material that comes from soil and sand, commonly used in th

1.nounB2
Definition

a grey, hard natural material that comes from soil and sand, commonly used in the production of computer chips, solar panels, and electronic goods.

Example

Putri works at a factory that turns raw silicon into computer chips.

collocation: raw silicon

Pure silicon is used to make the tiny circuits inside smartphones and laptops.

passive: is used to make [electronic components]

Common collocations
  • raw silicon
  • pure silicon
  • silicon chip
  • silicon wafer
  • silicon conducts electricity
  • silicon is used in

Usage Note

Uncountable noun. Often used as a modifier before another noun (silicon chip, silicon wafer, silicon valley). Do not confuse with silicone (矽膠), a man-made polymer used in sealants and kitchen moulds.

Common Mistakes

The baking tray is coated with silicon.
The baking tray is coated with silicone.
silicon is the element used in electronics; silicone is a rubbery polymer used in kitchen tools and sealants.
These silicons are very pure.
This silicon is very pure.
silicon is uncountable and does not take a plural form.

Word family

  • silica
    nounB2
  • silicone
    nounB2
  • silicate
    nounC1
  • siliceous
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Silicon is a chemical element (Si) found naturally in sand and rock, used as the base material for computer chips. Silica (二氧化矽) is the compound silicon dioxide — the main ingredient in sand, glass, and concrete. Silicone (矽膠) is a man-made polymer containing silicon, oxygen, and other elements, valued for its rubbery, heat-resistant properties in kitchen tools and sealants. Glass is made by melting silica with other minerals, but contains silicon only as part of silica. In everyday language: a 'silicon chip' powers your phone; 'silica gel' packets keep products dry; a 'silicone spatula' won't melt in hot pans.

silicasilicone ↗glass ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • made of silicon
  • made from silicon

Prepositions

  • in silicon
  • of silicon
  • from silicon

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin silex (genitive silicis), meaning 'flint' or 'hard stone'. The English chemist Thomas Thomson coined the name 'silicon' in 1817, adapting the earlier name 'silicium' (from French) and adding the '-on' ending to make it parallel with carbon and boron, other non-metal elements.