silici-

American  

especially before a vowel, silic-.

1. a combining form representing silicon in compound words.

   silicide.

2. a combining form representing silica in compound words.

   silicify.

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silici- British  

combining form

1. indicating silica or silicon

   silicify

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Usage

What does silici- mean? The combining form silici- is used like a prefix that has two distinct but related senses.The first of these senses is “silicon.” Silicon is an abundant nonmetallic element  used in steelmaking and alloys. This form of silici- is rarely used in a variety of scientific and technical terms, particularly in chemistry.The second of these senses is “silica.” Silica is "the dioxide form of silicon, SiO₂, occurring especially as quartz sand, flint, and agate: used usually in the form of its prepared white powder chiefly in the manufacture of glass, water glass, ceramics, and abrasives." This form of silici- is occasionally used in a variety of technical terms, particularly in mineralogy and geology.The origins of both senses of this form are related. English silica, also known as silicon dioxide, comes from Latin silex, meaning "flint." Silicon is a combination of silica and the suffix -on, which is used here to indicate a nonmetallic element, on the model of carbon. Essentially, silica is a chemical compound that includes silicon.What are variants of silici-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, silici- becomes silic-, as in silicic.