silicon nitride

noun

: any of several compounds of silicon and nitrogen
specifically : a compound Si3N4 that is a hard ceramic used in high-temperature applications and in composites

Examples of silicon nitride in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Current techniques dissolve the silver in nitric acid and use other acids to handle a silicon nitride layer in the panel, as well as some of the minor materials, like solder. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, 4 June 2024 Intermixing at the interface between the diamond and silicon nitride led to the formation of silicon carbide, which acted as a kind of bridge for the phonons, allowing more efficient heat transfer. — IEEE Spectrum, 20 Oct. 2025 The underlying mechanics involve a slab waveguide composed of a silicon nitride core, a photoconductive silicon-rich nitride layer, and an indium tin oxide electrode. — The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 31 Mar. 2025 His lab is working on heat-tolerant materials like silicon nitride and titanium nitride, aiming for a sail that can withstand temperatures of around 1,000 degrees Celsius (that's 1,832 degrees Fahrenheit) for long enough to pull off a sun-dive. — Kiona N. Smith, Space.com, 31 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for silicon nitride

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of silicon nitride was in 1903

Browse Nearby Words

siliconized
silicon nitride
silicon oxide
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Silicon nitride.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/silicon%20nitride. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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