microchip
MY-kroh-chip
/ˈmaɪkroʊtʃɪp/
A tiny electronic integrated circuit injected under an animal's skin, containing a unique identification number scanned to identify the owner.
A microchip is not a GPS tracker; it does not broadcast a live location. It is a passive RFID device that must be read by a scanner at a shelter or vet clinic.
The story behind the word. A modern compound word combining the Greek 'mikros' (small) and the English 'chip' (originally a small fragment of wood or stone). In the mid-20th century, 'chip' came to mean a tiny slice of silicon containing an integrated circuit. In the 1980s, these chips were first adapted into bio-compatible glass capsules for animal identification.
Word relationships
- transponder: 'Transponder' is the technical engineering term for the device, while 'microchip' is the common term used by the public and vets.
Commonly confused with
- GPS tracker: A GPS tracker actively broadcasts location via satellites and requires battery power, while a microchip is passive, has no battery, and only transmits a number when scanned up close.
Word family
- microchipped (adjective): Having had a microchip implanted.
Collocations
- inject a microchip
- microchip scanner
- register a microchip
Example sentences
- "Thanks to the microchip implanted between his shoulders, the runaway cat was identified and returned home within hours." A story about a lost pet reuniting with its family.
- "The technician used a handheld scanner to microchip the new puppy during its first checkup." A veterinary clinic's check-in procedure.
Memory hook
A 'micro' (tiny) 'chip' (computer piece) is slipped under the skin to keep your pet safe. Microchip: a tiny chip for a big rescue.
When not to use
Do not use to describe a collar tag or a GPS tracking device.
Fun facts
- A pet microchip is roughly the size of a single grain of rice and is injected using a needle without the need for anesthesia.
Related words
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