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

Finally, he looked at dividends, noting that Texas Instruments and Microchip both offer yields near 3%.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 10, 2026

Microchip Technology increases its fiscal third-quarter net sales estimate to approximately $1.19 billion, a 4% rise from the second quarter.

From Barron's • Jan. 6, 2026

Listeners may know the new presenter through his The Invention Of... series, as well as The Rise and Rise of the Microchip and Continental Divides.

From BBC • Dec. 3, 2025

Highflying chip stocks such as Super Micro Computer, Synopsys and Microchip Technology were among the S&P 500’s worst performers on Friday.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 11, 2025

The Biden administration on Thursday announced plans to provide $162 million in federal grants to Microchip Technology, an Arizona-based semiconductor company that supplies the automotive, defense and other industries.

From New York Times • Jan. 4, 2024

Related Words

• chip
• circuitry
• microprocessor
• silicon chip