Definition of SILICON

silicon

Meanings

Plural: silicons

Noun

  • a tetravalent nonmetallic element; next to oxygen it is the most abundant element in the earth's crust; occurs in clay and feldspar and granite and quartz and sand; used as a semiconductor in transistors
  • A nonmetallic element (symbol Si) with an atomic number of 14 and atomic weight of 28.0855.
  • A single atom of this element.
  • Computing.
  • A computer processor.
  • Abbreviation of silicon chip.

Origin / Etymology

Coined by Scottish chemist Thomas Thomson as a modification of the earlier name silicium, from the stem of Latin silex (“flint, silica”) + -on from carbon.

Synonyms

atomic number 14, Si, silicium, silicum

Scrabble Score: 9

silicon is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
silicon is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
silicon is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 12

silicon is a valid Words With Friends word