Silicon is a chemical element, a hard, gray substance found in sand and rock, widely used to make computer chips and electronic devices. It is not the same as silicone, which is a flexible, rubbery material.
“Silicon” was coined in the early 19th century from Latin “silex” or “silicis,” meaning flint, plus the element-forming suffix “-on.” It was named because it is a major part of flint and sand. The spelling parallels other non-metal elements like carbon and boron.
The famous ‘Silicon Valley’ is literally named after sand—the element that makes up most computer chips. Confusingly, silicon (the element) and silicone (the plastic) look almost the same in writing but behave totally differently in real life. Tech culture accidentally turned a rock ingredient into a symbol of innovation.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.