microchip

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A very small piece of silicon that contains an electronic circuit and is used in computers and other devices.

   Grammar: Countable: one microchip, two microchips. Often shortened to 'chip' in everyday speech.

   Patterns

   • a microchip in something
   • implant a microchip
   • microchip technology

   The new phone uses a faster microchip.

   Engineers designed a microchip that consumes less power.

   Each microchip can store millions of bits of data.

2. 2nouncountable

   A tiny electronic device placed under the skin of a pet or animal to identify it.

   Grammar: Countable: a microchip, microchips. Often used with 'have' or 'implant'.

   Patterns

   • have a microchip
   • implant a microchip in an animal
   • scan for a microchip

   The shelter puts a microchip in every dog it adopts out.

   If your cat gets lost, a vet can scan its microchip.

   She had a microchip implanted in her horse for identification.

Word forms

Common combinations

microchip implant

The microchip implant is about the size of a grain of rice.

microchip technology

Microchip technology has advanced rapidly in recent years.

silicon microchip

The silicon microchip is the heart of modern electronics.

microchip manufacturer

The company is a leading microchip manufacturer.

Synonyms and how they differ

chip

Chip is the informal, shorter word for the same thing; microchip is more precise and common in technical writing.

integrated circuit

Integrated circuit is the formal technical term; microchip is the everyday word for the same component.

Word family

microchip verb

To implant a microchip in an animal: 'They microchipped the puppy before adoption.'

Commonly confused: microchip or microscope?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “microchip”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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