Silicon Valley

American  

noun

1. the area in northern California, southwest of San Francisco in the Santa Clara valley region, where many of the high-technology design and manufacturing companies in the semiconductor industry are concentrated.

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Silicon Valley British  

noun

1. an industrial strip in W California, extending S of San Francisco, in which the US information technology industry is concentrated

2. any area in which industries associated with information technology are concentrated

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Silicon Valley Cultural  

1. A region on the San Francisco Peninsula in California where the miniaturized electronics industry is centered, so called because most of the devices built there are made of semiconductors such as silicon.

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The term is often used as a catchword to describe the development of high-tech industry (see also high-tech): “If we can attract this corporation to our town, we could become another Silicon Valley.”

Etymology

Origin of Silicon Valley

So called from the silicon wafers employed in semiconductor devices

Example Sentences

Silicon valley investor Peter Thiel and Canada's second largest public pension fund.

From Reuters • Jun. 8, 2017

Silicon valley is not the appropriate place to solve everything.

From New York Times • Jul. 27, 2015

Then he adds—because why beat around the bush?—“The golden age of Silicon valley is over and we're dancing on its grave.”

From Slate • May 22, 2012

Mr. Loeb has spent time in California canvassing Silicon valley for potential director candidates, according to people briefed on his plans.

From New York Times • Feb. 7, 2012