chip
English meaning: Chip
Definition
A small piece broken from a larger piece of solid material.
Example
“There's a small chip in the rim of this cup.”
Another example: “The new phone runs on a faster, more efficient chip.”
Usage — When, Where & How
Noun and verb with several senses: a small broken fragment ('a chip of wood'), a thin fried potato slice (UK 'crisps', US 'chips'), a microchip, a gambling token, or a small flaw. Also 'chip in' (contribute). Context fixes the meaning.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
From Old English forcippian 'to cut off', related to 'chop', with the noun dating to before the 14th century.
Related Words
Common Collocations
- computer chip
- chocolate chip
- fish and chips
- chip in
- chip away
- poker chip
Word Forms
chip (n); chips; chip/chipped/chipping (v)
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B