quantum dot

noun

: a semiconductor nanocrystal exhibiting quantum mechanical effects that allow it to mimic the properties of an atom
The quantum dot is a semiconducting (or metallic) region so tiny that it is essentially confined in all three dimensions; like an atom, it contains a finite number of charges and has discrete energy levels.Barbara Goss Levi

Examples of quantum dot in a Sentence

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First baked in 1980, quantum dots have been refined and made mass-producible with funding from NIST, the U.S. Army Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies and other agencies. Natalie Proulx, New York Times, 20 May 2025 After years of companies promising that their quantum dot light-emitting diode TVs use quantum dots (QDs) to boost color, some industry watchers and consumers have recently started questioning whether QLED TVs use QDs at all. ArsTechnica, 31 Mar. 2025 The color of the light emitted by the quantum dot depends on the wavelength, which is impacted by the quantum dot's size. Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 17 Sep. 2024 Controlled by Roku's intuitive smart system, this TV is easy to use and easy on the eyes thanks to features like local dimming for solid black levels and contrast, and punchy quantum dot colors. Ryan Waniata, Wired News, 13 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for quantum dot

Word History

First Known Use

1985, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of quantum dot was in 1985

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Cite this Entry

“Quantum dot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quantum%20dot. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.

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