Moore's law

American  

[moorz law] / ˈmʊərz ˈlɔ /

noun

Computers.

1. the principle of exponential growth, both observed and projected, in the density of semiconductors and digital processors: describes the doubling of the number of components in an integrated circuit approximately every two years.

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Moore's law Scientific  

/ môrz /

1. The observation that steady technological improvements in miniaturization leads to a doubling of the density of transistors on new integrated circuits every 18 months. In the mid-1960s, Gordon Moore (born 1929), one of the founders of Intel Corporation, observed that the density of transistors had been doubling every year, although the pace slowed slightly in the following years. The 18-month pattern held true into the 21st century, though as technology approaches the point where circuits are only a few atoms wide, new technologies, possibly not involving transistors at all, may be required for further miniaturization.

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Etymology

Origin of Moore's law

First recorded in 1965–70; named after U.S. businessman, engineer, and microchip manufacturer Gordon E. Moore (1929–2023)

Example Sentences

This could help the semiconductor industry continue down the trajectory described by Moore’s Law, which dictates that the number of transistors per chip—and therefore the computing power of a chip—should double every two years.

From The Wall Street Journal

“We are here to wake up Moore’s Law,” Gelsinger said.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Even a week or two before passing away, he was asking questions such as, ‘Does Moore’s Law apply in the age of AI?’” recalls his friend Jamie Montgomery, referring to whether artificial intelligence would see exponential gains like those experienced in computational power.

From The Wall Street Journal

AI computing costs had been declining around 90% every seven months, a dynamic akin to Moore’s Law for microchips, giving AI companies reason to believe their price-performance ratio will improve.

From The Wall Street Journal

Just as Moore’s Law helped chip designers predict and plan for the future, its generalizations provide guideposts that can help us ensure that the energy transition proceeds not just quickly but also smoothly and profitably.

From Los Angeles Times