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

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And the beauty about quantum dots is there’s different colors depending on different wavelengths. — Quanta Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026 This major $200 price drop gives movie enthusiasts, sports fans, and gamers an opportunity to capture deep black levels, vibrant quantum dot color volume, and lag-free frame rates without standard retail price strain. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026 Interestingly, the quantum dot functioned as an effective pest repellent against adult sweet potato whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci). — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026 Researchers achieved that by combining mercury telluride colloidal quantum dots, which absorb infrared light, and a dual-layer OLED, which converts that absorbed energy into visible color. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 31 July 2026 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Quantum dot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quantum%20dot. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!