wafer

USAGE SUMMARY

'wafer' is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use it to refer to a thin, crisp, flat sweet or savory food item. For example, "The shop was selling all kinds of wafers, from chocolate to cheese."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

In his long-awaited speech on Europe, which has been repeatedly delayed since the autumn, Cameron will pledge no rest until he wins because democratic consent for the EU in Britain is "wafer thin".

The Guardian

BC Iron this week signed a new mining contract to lower costs but its margins remain wafer thin.

The Guardian - Business

Some MPs have already questioned the legality of bombing IS in Syria, while Philippe Sands, a much-quoted international lawyer, says that the legal justification would not even be "wafer thin .Mr Obama is expected to address the UN next week on the subject, but will not seek a Security Council resolution that would only be vetoed by Russia.

The Economist

LIKE the mint wafer that caused Monty Python's bloated, gluttonous Mr Creosote to explode spectacularly, the backdating of share options may prove to be a small, lethal, "just one" last treat for the fat cats of corporate America.

The Economist

The idea, according to Mr Foo, is that in these uncertain times traders will be attracted by the idea of having a real, physical commodity at the end of the days' dealing anything from a thin wafer of silver to a gold bar.The Singapore Precious Metals Exchange (SPMX) thus combines several operations that are normally separate processes under one roof.

The Economist

Applying a layer of material that is only one billionth of a metre thick evenly across a wafer of silicon that is eight centimetres in diameter is no easy task.Other chip designers are trying to side-step the problem.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

33 human-written examples

The prospect of a multi-party government with a wafer-thin majority switching prime ministers after five months might sound pretty far-fetched.

The Guardian - Opinion

None of this pre-cut, thinly sliced nonsense, much less sad wafer-thin slices of plastic, reformed meat.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Labour has moved into a wafer-thin one-point lead in the final pre-election Guardian/ICM poll, leaving the country on a knife-edge with the markets starting to jitter.

The Guardian

It is now expected to be announced as a consultation rather than a draft law, as Cameron may not have the support to get it through the Commons with his wafer-thin majority of 12. Alex Salmond, the SNP MP and former first minister of Scotland, told the BBC it showed the government was in "headlong retreat" and that it "had not taken long to get blown off course".

The Guardian

Labour moved into a wafer-thin one-point lead in the final pre-election Guardian/ICM poll.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to the semiconductor industry, use "wafer" to denote the silicon or other material substrate on which microcircuits are fabricated. This is a specific technical term in that field.

Common error

Avoid using "wafer" interchangeably with terms like "cracker" or "biscuit" unless referring specifically to a thin, crisp type of baked good. In technical contexts, ensure it's not mistaken for a generic 'disk' or 'layer'.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "wafer" is as a noun, referring to a thin, crisp cake or biscuit, or a thin slice of semiconductor material. Ludwig AI identifies these usages across various examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

19%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "wafer" functions primarily as a noun with varied applications. It can denote a type of thin, crisp food, a component in semiconductor manufacturing, or even describe something figuratively as "wafer-thin". As Ludwig AI confirms, its correct usage spans across multiple contexts, with high frequency in News & Media, Science, and Formal & Business domains. Understanding these different contexts is crucial for its proper use.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

thin biscuit

Highlights the specific type of baked good.

thin slice

Focuses on the physical characteristic of being thin.

fragile layer

Emphasizes the delicate and easily breakable nature.

paper-thin sheet

Emphasizes extreme thinness and broad applicability.

silicon disk

Relates specifically to the semiconductor context.

delicate film

Emphasizes the fine and sensitive nature of the substance.

brittle coating

Describes the fragility and covering function.

communion host

Focuses on the religious context.

unleavened bread

Specifically describes the type of bread used in certain contexts.

gelatin seal

Highlights the historical use as a sealant.

FAQs

How is "wafer" typically used in the context of technology?

In technology, particularly in semiconductor manufacturing, "wafer" refers to a thin slice of semiconductor material, such as silicon, used as a substrate for microelectronic devices.

What are some synonyms for "wafer" when describing food?

When describing food, synonyms for "wafer" can include "thin biscuit", "cracker", or "thin cookie" depending on the specific characteristics of the item.

How does the meaning of "wafer" change depending on the context?

The meaning of "wafer" can vary significantly based on the context. It can refer to a thin, crisp food item, a "communion host" in a religious setting, or a "silicon disk" in electronics.

In what contexts is it appropriate to use the term "wafer-thin"?

The term "wafer-thin" is appropriate when describing something that is extremely thin, often in a figurative sense, such as "wafer-thin margins" or a "wafer-thin majority."