Moore's law

[moorz law]

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.

Moore's law

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.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Moore's law¹

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

Example Sentences

“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.

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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.

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The best-known example is Moore’s Law.

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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.

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But semiconductor engineers are running up against the physical limits of Moore’s Law, a long-held projection that the number of transistors on an integrated circuit will double every two years, making them smaller and faster.

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