# chip

Pronunciation: say "CHIP" /t͡ʃɪp/

## Noun

1. A small piece broken off from a larger solid object.
   - Simple: A small bit that breaks off something hard, like wood or stone.
   - _A sharp chip of flint can be honed into a cutting edge._
   - _Tiny chips of glass littered the floor after the window shattered._
2. A thin, crisp slice of potato fried until crunchy; sometimes made instead from another vegetable or dried fruit. *(Australia, Canada, New Zealand, US)*
   - Simple: A thin slice of potato fried until hard and crunchy, eaten as a snack.
   - _He dipped a chip into the salsa during the game._
   - _The vending machine sold only chips and candy._
3. A small, thin piece of material carrying a complete electronic circuit; a microchip.
   - Simple: A tiny piece of material that holds an electronic circuit, used inside computers and phones.
   - _Engineers designed a new chip to speed up image processing._
   - _Memory chips store data even when the device is powered off._
4. A damaged spot on a surface where a small piece has broken away.
   - Simple: A small spot where a piece has broken off and left a mark.
   - _A deep chip marred the polished edge of the granite countertop._
   - _Small chips along the windshield spread into cracks over the winter._
5. A small disk used in place of cash, especially for placing bets or keeping score in casino and card games.
   - Simple: A small round piece used instead of money when playing games like poker.
   - _The dealer slid a single chip across the felt to mark the winning bet._
   - _Players stacked their chips neatly before committing to the final hand._
9. A small, roughly cone-shaped piece of food, typically chocolate, added to batter or dough in baking.
   - Simple: A small, droplet-shaped piece of food, often chocolate, baked into cookies and other treats.
   - _The recipe calls for both dark and white chocolate chips._
   - _He bit into the muffin and found a melted chip of butterscotch._
12. The smallest amount; the slightest bit.
   - Simple: Even a very small amount of something.
   - _She gave not a chip of warning before storming out._
   - _There wasn't a chip of doubt left in his mind._
13. A low golf shot played from near the green, meant to travel briefly through the air and then roll toward the hole.
   - Simple: A short, low golf shot that flies a little way, then rolls toward the hole.
   - _A delicate chip from the fringe left him an easy putt._
   - _Strong wind ruined several of her chips near the eighteenth._
15. A shot, as in soccer, that sends the ball more sharply upward than usual, often to clear an obstacle such as the goalkeeper.
   - Simple: A kick that sends the ball high into the air, often to lift it over a player.
   - _The striker's chip dropped just under the crossbar._
   - _Defenders struggled against his delicate chips all match._
18. A light shot played with a downward slice, usually struck from close to the net.
   - Simple: A soft tennis shot hit with downward spin, usually from near the net.
   - _She disguised her chip beautifully, sending it skidding low over the net._
   - _A well-placed chip can neutralize a hard-hitting baseliner._
19. A small rectangle of color printed on coated paper for choosing and matching colors, or its on-screen equivalent in software.
   - Simple: A small printed square of color used to pick or match colors, or the same thing on a screen.
   - _He grabbed a handful of paint chips from the hardware store to compare at home._
   - _Click the color chip to open the full palette._
20. A device mounted on a substrate that combines electronic circuitry with miniaturized mechanical, chemical, or biochemical components.
   - Simple: A tiny device built into a flat base that holds electronic parts and other small working parts.
   - _Engineers packed sensors and circuitry onto a single chip._
   - _These chips integrate tiny pumps and channels for handling fluids._
22. A very light shot that strikes the cue ball so gently it just eases an object ball into a pocket without potting the cue ball.
   - Simple: A very soft shot that just nudges a ball into a pocket while keeping the cue ball out.
   - _He played a careful chip to sink the ball and leave the cue ball safe._
   - _A well-judged chip rolls the object ball in while the cue ball stays put._
23. In curling, a takeout that strikes a stone at an angle rather than head-on.
   - Simple: In curling, a shot that hits a stone at an angle to knock it aside.
   - _She played a precise chip to angle the rock out of the house._
   - _A well-aimed chip can deflect one stone onto another._
24. A medallion; a small flat metal ornament, often worn on a chain.
   - Simple: A small round metal piece worn on a chain, like a medallion.
   - _A thick gold chip glittered at his collar._
   - _The rapper's chip caught the stage lights with every move._
28. A small basket or container, usually used for holding strawberries or other fruit. *(dialectal, New Zealand, Northern)*
   - Simple: A small basket or box used to hold strawberries or other fruit.
   - _He picked up a chip of raspberries from the roadside stall and tipped them into a bowl at home._
   - _Empty chips were stacked beside the weighing table, ready for the pickers._

## Verb

6. To have a small piece break off, usually through wear or impact.
   - Simple: To lose a small piece from being knocked, worn, or struck.
   - _Cheap ceramic tiles chip easily under heavy traffic._
   - _Her tooth chipped when she bit down on the olive pit._
7. To break small pieces off the surface of something solid.
   - Simple: To break small pieces off something hard.
   - _Climbers chip footholds into the frozen rock face._
   - _The careless mover chipped the edge of the antique desk._
8. To chop or cut something into small pieces.
   - Simple: To cut or chop something into small bits.
   - _Crews chip the pruned limbs and spread the shavings over the beds._
   - _The cook chipped a block of chocolate into rough flakes._
10. To implant a small identifying microchip in an animal. *(colloquial)*
   - Simple: To put a tiny identifying tag under an animal's skin.
   - _Responsible breeders chip their kittens before rehoming them._
   - _They chipped the rescue dog so it could be traced if it ran off._
14. To play the ball with a short, low golf shot that flies briefly and then rolls.
   - Simple: To hit a golf ball with a short, low shot toward the hole.
   - _He chipped the ball over the bunker and watched it settle near the flag._
   - _Skilled players chip the ball with surprising control on fast greens._
16. To beat an opposing player by lofting the ball over their head with a chip shot.
   - Simple: To beat a player by gently lifting the ball over their head.
   - _He chipped the onrushing goalkeeper to win the match._
   - _Skilled attackers chip defenders who close down too aggressively._
17. To move a ball a relatively short distance by striking it with an oblique, glancing contact.
   - Simple: To hit a ball a short way using a glancing, angled touch.
   - _She chipped the cue ball with an oblique stroke, nudging it only a few inches across the table._
   - _Good players chip the ball with a glancing contact rather than a firm strike._
21. To upgrade a vehicle's engine management system, usually to increase its power.
   - Simple: To change a car's engine computer to make it more powerful.
   - _She chipped her hatchback for extra horsepower before the track day._
   - _Specialists chip diesel engines to improve torque._
25. To contribute one's share, especially of money, toward a common purpose. *(UK)*
   - Simple: To give money or help as your share toward something.
   - _If we all chip in a tenner, we can get Priya a proper leaving present._
   - _We each chipped in a fiver toward the taxi home after the match._
26. In card games, to ante up; to place one's stake into the pot before the deal.
   - Simple: In card games, to put money into the pot before play starts.
   - _Each player chipped before the cards were dealt._
   - _We chip at the beginning of every game._
27. To leave; to make off, especially quickly or suddenly. *(slang, UK)*
   - Simple: To leave or go away quickly.
   - _She chipped from the party without saying goodbye._
   - _We should chip before the rain starts._
30. To make fun of someone; to tease or mock.
   - Simple: To tease someone or make jokes at their expense.
   - _The players chip each other constantly in the locker room._
   - _He chipped his friend about the missed penalty._

## Noun

11. A deep-fried strip of potato, known in American English as a french fry. *(archaic, Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, UK)*
   - Simple: A thick strip of potato cooked in hot oil, what Americans call a fry.
   - _The pub served a generous portion of chips with every burger._
   - _She salted her chip and dipped it in vinegar._
29. A sovereign; a gold coin worth one pound sterling. *(dated)*
   - Simple: An old British gold coin worth one pound, the sovereign.
   - _He slapped a gold chip onto the counter to settle the wager._
   - _A handful of chips clinked in the old sailor's pocket._

## Other meanings

- (noun) A dried cake of animal droppings, such as a cow or buffalo chip, burned as fuel.
- (noun) The wedge-shaped wooden float at the end of a ship's log line, used to measure the vessel's speed.
- (noun) Thin strips of wood or palm leaf, or specially braided straw, used to make hats and bonnets.
- (noun) Something shriveled, dry or tasteless.
- (verb) To carve or shape something with a chisel.
- (verb) To work with a chisel, cutting or shaping wood, stone or metal.

## Origin

From Middle English "chip," from Old English "ċipp" (a chip or small piece of wood or shaving), from a root meaning to cut, carve, or chop, traced back through Proto-Germanic to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning to split or divide. The verb likewise comes from the Old English word meaning to cut or hew.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/chip (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).