1. A template or stencil used in semiconductor manufacturing to transfer circuit patterns onto a silicon wafer using light exposure.
Usage: technical; electronics industry

Examples

• The photomask contains the precise pattern needed to create the microchip's circuitry.
• Engineers designed a new photomask to improve the resolution of the integrated circuit.
• During photolithography, the photomask is aligned with the wafer to expose specific areas.
• A single photomask can be used to manufacture thousands of identical semiconductor devices.
• The quality of the photomask directly affects the accuracy of the final chip design.