IC

Abbreviation for Integrated Circuit. Otherwise known as the “chip” or “microchip.” Integrated circuit chips are made up of hundreds of thousands of what would otherwise be discrete components such as transistors, capacitors, resistors, etc, except in most IC’s these functions are generally all mimicked by transistor type circuits. Basically a typical IC is the equivalent of what would otherwise be an entire circuit board with many components, but all contained in the one chip. IC’s are commonly used in all kinds of modern electronic equipment and have been the single most important element in the miniaturization of electronic equipment that has taken place in the past 30 years.