moore's law: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Formal, Academic, Technical, Business
Quick answer
What does “moore's law” mean?
The observation that the number of transistors on a microchip doubles approximately every two years, while the cost is halved.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The observation that the number of transistors on a microchip doubles approximately every two years, while the cost is halved.
A metaphorical axiom describing the exponential growth of computing power and digital technology over time, often used to predict the pace of technological change and innovation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling and pronunciation of 'Moore' (/mɔːr/ vs. /mʊr/ or /mɔr/). No significant lexical or usage differences.
Connotations
In both variants, it carries connotations of inevitable technological progress, innovation, and economic implications for the tech industry.
Frequency
Equally frequent in technical, business, and academic contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “moore's law” in a Sentence
Moore's Law + [verb] (e.g., states, predicts, holds)According to + Moore's LawThe principle of + Moore's LawVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “moore's law” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The industry has been Moore's Law-ing for decades.
- Engineers aim to Moore's Law the new processor design.
American English
- We need to Moore's Law our way to better performance.
- The company Moore's Lawed its product line successfully.
adverb
British English
- Processing power grew Moore's Law-ly for years.
- The devices shrank almost Moore's Law-ly.
American English
- The technology advanced Moore's Law-fast.
- Costs decreased Moore's Law-quickly in the 1990s.
adjective
British English
- The Moore's Law trajectory is slowing.
- We saw a Moore's Law-style growth in data.
American English
- It was a Moore's Law increase in capability.
- They predicted a Moore's Law rate of improvement.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in strategy and forecasting to plan for rapid product obsolescence and new market opportunities in tech.
Academic
A foundational concept in computer science, semiconductor physics, and technology history courses.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation; may appear in popular science discussions about future technology.
Technical
Central to discussions in chip design, computational power, and hardware engineering roadmaps.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “moore's law”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “moore's law”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “moore's law”
- Misspelling as 'More's Law'.
- Incorrectly stating the time period (e.g., 'every year').
- Using it to refer to any technological progress, not specifically transistor density.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is an empirical observation and a business prediction made by Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel, in 1965. It is not a law of nature like gravity.
Many experts argue its pace has slowed due to physical and economic constraints in transistor miniaturization, though the broader trend of exponential computing advancement continues through other innovations.
Gordon E. Moore, co-founder of Fairchild Semiconductor and Intel Corporation, first made the observation in a 1965 paper.
It became a self-fulfilling prophecy that guided the goals and investments of the entire global semiconductor industry, driving unprecedented technological and economic growth for over half a century.
The observation that the number of transistors on a microchip doubles approximately every two years, while the cost is halved.
Moore's law is usually formal, academic, technical, business in register.
Moore's law: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmɔːz ˌlɔː/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmʊrz ˌlɔ/ or /ˈmɔrz ˌlɔ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Keep up with Moore's Law”
- “Moore's Law is dead/slowing”
- “A Moore's Law pace”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine Gordon Moore drawing a graph where a microchip gets TWICE as powerful every TWO years. 'Moore' sounds like 'more', and the law predicts 'more' power.
Conceptual Metaphor
TECHNOLOGICAL PROGRESS IS AN EXPONENTIAL RACE (or a doubling curve).
Practice
Quiz
What does Moore's Law specifically predict will double approximately every two years?