Silicon (Noun)
Meaning
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.
Classification
Nouns denoting substances.
Examples
- The semiconductor industry relies heavily on silicon for the production of microchips and computer processors.
- Silicon is the second most abundant element in the Earth's crust, making up a significant portion of the planet's soil and rocks.
- The processing and refining of silicon is a complex and expensive process, which is why pure silicon is so valuable.
- Silicon, along with other elements, is often used to create semiconductors in electronic devices.
- Some of the most common sources of silicon are sand, granite, and quartz, which contain high concentrations of the element.