silicon
Transistor base material
Silicon is a chemical element, a metalloid abundant in Earth's crust.
Combined with oxygen, it forms silica—the basis of sand, quartz, and glass.
Pure silicon's semiconductor properties make it essential to computer chips and electronics, giving rise to Silicon Valley as shorthand for the tech industry.
Solar panels and silicone rubber also depend on silicon compounds.
Partial electrical conductor
- transistorSemiconductor signal switch
- waferThin crisp disk
- processorComponent that executes instructions
- CPUMain computing chip
fabrication · lithography · etching · die · nanometer · microprocessor · motherboard · chipset
Component that executes instructions
- hardwareMetal goods and fittings
- softwarePrograms directing computer operations
- algorithmFinite problem-solving procedure
- dataFacts for analysis
binary · coding · transistor · circuit · storage · memory · AI · cloud
Element straddling two classes
- semiconductorPartial electrical conductor
- germaniumAtomic number thirty-two
- electronegativityAtomic electron attraction strength
- solid-stateUsing semiconductors, not tubes
doping · conductivity · allotropes · elemental · purification · ingot · polycrystalline · monocrystalline
Crystalline silicon dioxide
- sandFine rock particles
- glassTransparent solid from sand
- crystalOrdered-atom solid
- opalHydrated silica gemstone
flint · agate · chert · jasper · chalcedony · carnelian · amorphous · fused
Light-to-electricity converting
- panelDistinct flat section
- monocrystallineHaving unbroken crystal lattice
- polycrystallineHaving many crystal grains
- thin-filmUltra-shallow material layer
efficiency · sunlight · renewable · energy · wafer · inverter · array · rooftop
Hard outer layer
- abundanceAmple supply, overflowing
- quartzCrystalline silicon dioxide
- feldsparSilicate mineral group
- graniteIgneous rock, quartz-rich
basalt · minerals · igneous · metamorphic · sedimentary · rock · lithosphere · tectonics
Upper front torso
- augmentationAct of adding more
- prosthesisManufactured replacement body part
- cosmeticSurface-level appearance enhancer
- surgeryInvasive medical procedure
reconstruction · gel · saline · aesthetic · mammoplasty · rupture · medical-grade · biocompatible
Waterproof gap filler
- waterproofImpervious to moisture
- adhesiveMaterial that bonds objects
- gasketMechanical leak preventer
- rubberElastic polymer from trees
flexible · heat-resistant · bathroom · kitchen · weatherstripping · aquarium · lubricant · o-ring
Newly launched businesses
- entrepreneursThose who launch ventures
- incubatorsControlled-environment growth chambers
- acceleratorsThings that speed up
- IPOFirst public stock offering
NASDAQ · Stanford · ecosystem · disruption · networking · hackathons · co-working · unicorn
semiconductor
Partial electrical conductor
- transistorSemiconductor signal switch
- waferThin crisp disk
- processorComponent that executes instructions
CPU · fabrication · lithography · etching · die · nanometer · microprocessor · motherboard · chipset · foundry
processor
Component that executes instructions
- hardwareMetal goods and fittings
- softwarePrograms directing computer operations
- algorithmFinite problem-solving procedure
data · binary · coding · transistor · circuit · storage · memory · AI · cloud · virtualization
metalloid
Element straddling two classes
- semiconductorPartial electrical conductor
- germaniumAtomic number thirty-two
- electronegativityAtomic electron attraction strength
solid-state · doping · conductivity · allotropes · elemental · purification · ingot · polycrystalline · monocrystalline · carbon
quartz
Crystalline silicon dioxide
opal · flint · agate · chert · jasper · chalcedony · carnelian · amorphous · fused · aerogel
photovoltaic
Light-to-electricity converting
- panelDistinct flat section
- monocrystallineHaving unbroken crystal lattice
- polycrystallineHaving many crystal grains
thin-film · efficiency · sunlight · renewable · energy · wafer · inverter · array · rooftop · grid
crust
Hard outer layer
granite · basalt · minerals · igneous · metamorphic · sedimentary · rock · lithosphere · tectonics · mantle
breast
Upper front torso
- augmentationAct of adding more
- prosthesisManufactured replacement body part
- cosmeticSurface-level appearance enhancer
surgery · reconstruction · gel · saline · aesthetic · mammoplasty · rupture · medical-grade · biocompatible
caulk
Waterproof gap filler
- waterproofImpervious to moisture
- adhesiveMaterial that bonds objects
- gasketMechanical leak preventer
rubber · flexible · heat-resistant · bathroom · kitchen · weatherstripping · aquarium · lubricant · o-ring · non-toxic
startups
Newly launched businesses
- entrepreneursThose who launch ventures
- incubatorsControlled-environment growth chambers
- acceleratorsThings that speed up
IPO · NASDAQ · Stanford · ecosystem · disruption · networking · hackathons · co-working · unicorn · founders
- chemicalschemicals, compounds, acids, reagents, solutions
- periodic tableperiodic table, elements, hydrogen, helium, carbon
- metalloidsboron, germanium, arsenic, antimony, tellurium
- Chipmakingphotolithography, lithography, etching, clean room, cleanroom
- materials sciencealloys, metallurgy, metals, ceramics, polymers
- semiconductorssemiconductor, semiconductors, transistor, doping, diode
siliconcarbon
Sixth element, atomic symbol C
organic matter · hydrocarbons · carbon-based life · flesh · biological tissue
siliconcarbon
Sixth element, atomic symbol C
vacuum tubes · organic compounds · metal · conductor · insulator
- Silicon ValleyBay Area tech corridor
- silicon chipsEtched semiconductor components
- silica gel packets
- silicone implantsGel-filled surgical enhancements
- silica gelMoisture-absorbing granular material
- silicone oilSynthetic polymer-based lubricant
silica, silicone, silicate, silicates, silicones, silicon chip, siliconized, silicon wafer, silicon wafers