in silico

in silico
adj.
In a virtual environment, such as a computer simulation.
Example Citation:
"Now, with the human genetic code at last published and loaded onto CD-ROMs and DVDs, scientists are talking about a new era of medicine in which medical discoveries will be made not 'in vivo' (in life) or 'in vitro' (in test tubes), but 'in silico,' or on computers."
— Rick Weiss, "A New Genetic Window on Curing Diseases," The Washington Post, February 11, 2001
Earliest Citation:
"Some a-life researchers claim they are creating life forms on computers, in silico creatures as truly alive as the bacteria studied in vitro."
— Joshua Quittner, "Artificial Life Gets Real," Newsday, July 21, 1992
Notes:
As the citations make clear, this phrase is a variation on the much older Latin phrases in vivo and in vitro. Although in silico (literally, "in silicon") has likely been around in scientific circles for a while.
In silico thanks go to Word Spy subscriber Robert Saylor for letting me know about this phrase.
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New words. 2013.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Silico- — Sil i*co (Chem.) A combining form (also used adjectively) denoting the presence of silicon or its compounds; as, silicobenzoic, silicofluoride, etc. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • silico- — [sil′i kō, sil′ikə] 〚/span> SILICON〛 combining form silicon, silica [silicosis] * * * …   Universalium

  • silico-tuberculose — [silikotybɛʀkyloz] n. f. ÉTYM. 1956; de silicose, et tuberculose. ❖ ♦ Méd. Silicose compliquée de tuberculose. ➪ tableau Principales maladies et affections …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • silico- — [sil′i kō, sil′ikə] [< SILICON] combining form silicon, silica [silicosis] …   English World dictionary

  • silico- — ⇒SILIC(O) , (SILIC , SILICO ), élém. formant Élém. tiré de silicium (pour les subst.) et de silicique (pour les adj.), servant à indiquer en chim. la présence de silicium dans un composé ou entrant dans la constr. de mots du vocab. de minér. et… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • silico-methane — Silicide Sil i*cide, n. (Chem.) A binary compound of silicon, or one regarded as binary. [R.] [1913 Webster] {Hydrogen silicide} (Chem.), a colorless, spontaneously inflammable gas, {SiH4}, produced artifically from silicon, and analogous to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • silico — Any life form based on silicon, like intelligent computers, androids or maybe even aliens, based on silicon. TovarisSilicij is a silico …   Dictionary of american slang

  • silico — Any life form based on silicon, like intelligent computers, androids or maybe even aliens, based on silicon. TovarisSilicij is a silico …   Dictionary of american slang

  • Silico- — Sị|li|co ↑ Silic …   Universal-Lexikon

  • silico-thermic reduction — Смотри силикотермическое восстановление …   Энциклопедический словарь по металлургии

  • silico-thermic (silicon) reduction — Смотри силикотермическое восстановление …   Энциклопедический словарь по металлургии

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