microchip
|mi-cro-chip|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˈmaɪkroʊˌtʃɪp/
🇬🇧
/ˈmaɪkrəʊˌtʃɪp/
small semiconductor device
Etymology
Etymology Information
'microchip' originates from the combination of 'micro-' meaning 'small' and 'chip' referring to a small piece of semiconductor material.
Historical Evolution
'microchip' was coined in the 20th century as technology advanced to create smaller and more efficient electronic components.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred to any small chip, but now it specifically denotes semiconductor devices with integrated circuits.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a small semiconductor device containing integrated circuits.
The computer's performance improved after installing a new microchip.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:40