microchip

American  

[mahy-kroh-chip] / ˈmaɪ kroʊˌtʃɪp /

noun

Electronics.

1. chip.

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microchip British  

/ ˈmaɪkrəʊˌtʃɪp /

noun

1. a small piece of semiconductor material carrying many integrated circuits

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verb

1. (tr) to implant (an animal) with a microchip tag linked to a national computer network for purposes of identification

microchip Scientific  

/ mī′krə-chĭp′ /

1. See integrated circuit

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microchip Cultural  

1. The basic component of modern miniaturized electronics. The “chip” is a series of electrical circuits built into a tiny wafer of silicon or another semiconductor.

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Discover More

These circuits may be made by exposing the chip to a high-temperature vapor of controlled composition. The vapor deposits a thin layer (sometimes only a few atoms thick) on the silicon. In this way complex layers of materials, such as those found in transistors can be built up in a very small area.

Etymology

Origin of microchip

First recorded in 1965–70; micro- + chip ¹

Explanation

A microchip is a tiny piece of material that contains electronic circuits allowing it to store a lot of information. Many dogs have microchips so their owners can easily find them if they get lost. Microchips are made by etching an electronic circuit into a bit of silicon the size of a grain of rice. This tiny device can hold computer memory and processors, or be used to conduct electricity. You almost certainly use things that contain microchips just about every day, including calculators, bank ATMs, certain ID cards, cell phones, and televisions. The word microchip was coined in the 1970s from micro-, "small," and the electronics term chip.

Example Sentences

One case in point is helium, a direct input into microchip manufacturing.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 29, 2026

We asked readers which U.S. technologies, including the cotton gin, the microchip and even the dishwasher, have mattered most.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026

There aren’t many customers for ASML’s multi-million-dollar microchip making machines, and one of them just drew a line in the sand.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 23, 2026

Early Wednesday, Musk tweeted a picture External link of a Tesla-designed microchip, dubbed AI5.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

"Before the nefarious Dr. Loofah puts the microchip in his back!" barks Scruffy.

From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein

Related Words

• chip
• circuitry
• microprocessor
• silicon chip