microelectronics

IPA/ˌmaɪkrəʊɪˌlekˈtrɒnɪks/
KK[mˌaɪkroɪlɛktrˈɑnɪks]IPA/ˌmaɪkrəʊɪˌlekˈtrɑːnɪks/

microelectronics — noun

1. a field within electronics focused on designing, building, and using tiny circui

1.nounC1
Definition

a field within electronics focused on designing, building, and using tiny circuits and components.

Example

Ayesha chose microelectronics after her physics teacher showed her a broken phone chip.

study microelectronics in an academic context

The lab in Bandung teaches microelectronics through simple sensor projects.

Common collocations
  • study microelectronics
  • microelectronics research
  • microelectronics lab
  • work in microelectronics
Synonyms
  • electronics

    broader field that also covers larger systems and general electrical control

  • chip design

    narrower phrase focused on planning integrated circuits rather than the whole field

  • semiconductor engineering

    often stresses industrial materials and manufacturing more than learner-level study

Grammar Patterns

study microelectronics

work in microelectronics

Usage Note

Usually singular and most common in academic, research, and industry contexts, especially when talking about chip design or small-circuit manufacturing.

Common Mistakes

She studies microelectronicses at college.
She studies microelectronics at college.
This sense is uncountable and does not take a plural ending.

2. tiny chips, circuits, and related equipment made with microelectronic methods, o

2.nounC1
Definition

tiny chips, circuits, and related equipment made with microelectronic methods, often discussed as a group.

Example

Dewi repairs microelectronics for farm drones at the workshop outside Surabaya.

repair microelectronics for a machine

The museum displayed early microelectronics beside radios from the 1970s.

Common collocations
  • repair microelectronics
  • consumer microelectronics
  • microelectronics inside a watch
  • early microelectronics
Synonyms
  • microelectronic components

    the clearest technical phrase for the individual parts in this group

  • chips

    everyday term, but narrower because it usually suggests integrated circuits

  • integrated circuits

    more exact for complete circuits on a chip, not every related small part

Grammar Patterns

repair microelectronics

microelectronics in + device

Usage Note

Usually treated as a plural group of parts inside larger products; for one item, speakers more often say microelectronic component or chip.

Common Mistakes

One microelectronics was damaged in the phone.
One microelectronic component was damaged in the phone.
This sense normally refers to many tiny parts together, not one single item.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Microelectronics is narrower than electronics. Electronics can include large systems, power control, and general device circuits, while microelectronics focuses on very small parts and the methods used to build them. Chip design is narrower again, because it mainly refers to planning the layout and function of integrated circuits. Semiconductor engineering often sounds more industrial, with extra attention to materials, factories, and manufacturing processes. If a student studies tiny circuits in phones or medical devices, microelectronics is the best word. If a factory improves chip production, semiconductor engineering may fit better.

microelectronics ↗electronics ↗chip designsemiconductor engineering

Common collocations

Nouns

  • microelectronics industry
  • microelectronics research
  • microelectronics manufacturing
  • microelectronics company

Phrases

  • study microelectronics
  • work in microelectronics

Prepositions

  • microelectronics in
  • microelectronics for

Etymology

GreekEnglish

The word combines micro-, meaning small, with electronics. It became useful when engineers began building circuits and other electronic parts on a much smaller scale, especially inside chips and compact devices.

First known use

1958

1958, in the meaning defined at sense 1