integrated circuit

noun

, Electronics.

1. a circuit of transistors, resistors, and capacitors constructed on a single semiconductor wafer or chip, in which the components are interconnected to perform a given function. : IC

integrated circuit

noun

1. a very small electronic circuit consisting of an assembly of elements made from a chip of semiconducting material, such as crystalline silicon IC

integrated circuit

/ ĭn′tĭ-grā′tĭd /

1. A device made of interconnected electronic components, such as transistors and resistors, that are etched or imprinted onto a tiny slice of a semiconducting material, such as silicon or germanium. An integrated circuit smaller than a fingernail can hold millions of circuits.
2. Also called chip microchip

integrated circuit

1. A miniaturized electrical circuit built on a microchip .

Word History and Origins

Origin of integrated circuit¹

First recorded in 1955–60

Example Sentences

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.

From Los Angeles Times

Humans will not successfully navigate the energy transition by spreadsheet model, policy template, integrated circuit or CAD drawing alone.

From Seattle Times

As the integrated circuits that power our electronic devices get more powerful, they are also getting smaller.

From Science Daily

The resulting integrated circuit occupies a 0.13-square-millimeter footprint that is smaller than phase shifters yet nearly doubles the channel-capacity -- i.e., data rate -- of conventional wireless arrays.

From Science Daily

In recent decades, as the continuous scaling of transistors and integrated circuits has started to reach physical and economic limits, fabricating semiconductor devices in a controllable and cost-effective manner has become challenging.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• chip
• circuitry
• microchip
• microprocessor
• silicon chip