A very abundant nonmetallic element, atomic no. 14, atomic wt. 28.0855, occurring in nature as silica and silicates; in pure form, used as a semiconductor and in solar batteries; also found in certain polysaccharide structures in mammary tissue. [L. silex, flint]
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sil·i·con 'sil-i-kən, 'sil-ə-.kän n a tetravalent nonmetallic element that occurs combined as the most abundant element next to oxygen in the earth's crust and is used esp. in alloys symbol Si see ELEMENT (table)
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sil·i·con (Si) (silґĭ-kon) [L. silex flint] a nonmetallic element occurring in nature as silicon dioxide, usually called silica; atomic number, 14; atomic weight, 28.086.Medical dictionary. 2011.