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

These compounds can perform better than silicon in certain high-frequency and high-power applications. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2026

The demand is so far ahead of supply that the world's most famous efficiency lab is building data centers and designing silicon. — Jon Markman, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

India and some countries in Southeast Asia are increasingly manufacturing their own panels, although China still maintains control of raw materials such as polycrystalline silicon. — Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 18 Aug. 2026

Separately, companies are using photonics to power specialized semiconductor chips that offer data bandwidth at high speeds and relatively low latency while generating less heat than standard silicon microchips. — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026

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