different between silicon vs gyrolite

English

Pronunciation

• enPR: s?l'?k?n, IPA^(key): /?s?l?k?n/; enPR: s?l'?k?n, IPA^(key): /?s?l?k?n/

Etymology 1

Coined by Scottish chemist Thomas Thomson as a modification of the earlier name silicium, from the stem of Latin silex (“flint, silica”) + -on from carbon.

Noun

silicon (usually uncountable, plural silicons)

2. (chemistry, uncountable) A nonmetallic element (symbol Si) with an atomic number of 14 and atomic weight of 28.0855.

   Synonyms: (obsolete) silicium, (obsolete) silicum

3. (chemistry, countable) A single atom of this element.

Usage notes

Do not confuse silicon with silicone.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

See also

• agate
• amethyst
• asbestos
• clay
• feldspar
• flint
• glass
• granite
• hornblende
• jasper
• mica
• opal
• quartz
• rock crystal
• sand

Etymology 2

From the silicon chips used in computers

Noun

silicon (uncountable)

1. (slang) computing
2. (slang) computer processor
3. Abbreviation of silicon chip.

Further reading

• David Barthelmy (1997–2021) , “Silicon”, in Webmineral Mineralogy Database
• “silicon”, in Mindat.org?^[1], Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, 2000–2021.

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French silicone.

Noun

silicon m (plural siliconi)

1. (chemistry) silicone

Declension

Noun

silicon n (plural silicoane)

1. (informal, chiefly in the plural) breast implant

Declension

Related terms

• siliciu

English

Etymology

gyro- +? -lite, from Ancient Greek ????? (gúros, “ring, circle”) and ????? (líthos, “stone”), for its round crystalline nodules.

Noun

gyrolite (countable and uncountable, plural gyrolites)

1. (mineralogy) A hexagonal-pyramidal mineral containing aluminum, calcium, hydrogen, oxygen, silicon, and sodium.

Further reading

• David Barthelmy (1997–2021) , “Gyrolite”, in Webmineral Mineralogy Database
• “gyrolite”, in Mindat.org?^[1], Hudson Institute of Mineralogy, 2000–2021.