microcontroller

noun

mi·​cro·​con·​trol·​ler ˈmī-krō-kən-ˌtrō-lər 

plural microcontrollers

: an integrated circuit that contains a microprocessor along with memory and associated circuits and that controls some or all of the functions of an electronic device (such as a home appliance) or system

Examples of microcontroller in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Albert Pro had three microcontroller unit processors (MCU processors), while Zoe Pro has just one; that helps make the system more compact and speeds up the machine’s ability to ingest and process information for the customer. —Meghan Hall, Sourcing Journal, 8 Aug. 2025

They can also be wired together internally using a set of buses programmed using a 650-bit stream from a microcontroller. —Peter Kinget, IEEE Spectrum, 30 July 2025

As Nvidia, Google, Red Hat, and others embrace RISC-V not just for microcontrollers but for host processors, AI pipelines, and full-stack development, the architecture is maturing from just an alternative to a strategic asset. —Dave Altavilla, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025

The system has six microcontrollers that manage everything from speed to battery maintenance. —Brent Rose, Outside Online, 24 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1971, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for microcontroller

• arteriolar
• ambipolar
• areolar
• bronchiolar
• circumpolar
• equimolar
• monopolar
• multipolar
• nucleolar
• unipolar
• vacuolar
• bipolar