n.
- a small, thin piece removed in the course of chopping, cutting, or breaking a hard material.
▸a blemish left by the removal of a chip.
▸Brit. wood or woody fibre split into thin strips and used for weaving hats or baskets.
- Brit. a long rectangular piece of deep-fried potato.
▸
(also potato chip)
N. Amer. a potato crisp.
- short for microchip.
- a counter used in certain gambling games to represent money.
- (in soccer or golf) a short lofted kick or shot.
v.
(chips, chipping, chipped)
- cut or break (a chip) from a hard material.
▸(of a hard material or object) break at the edge or on the surface.
-
(chip away at)
gradually and relentlessly make (something) smaller or weaker:
rivals may chip away at one's profits.
-
(chip in)
contribute one's share of a joint activity.
▸informal make an interjection.
-
[usu. as adj. chipped]
Brit. cut (a potato) into chips.
- (in soccer or golf) strike (the ball) to produce a short lofted shot or pass.
Phrase
- a chip off the old block
informal someone who resembles their parent in character. - a chip on one's shoulder
informal a deeply ingrained grievance. - have had one's chips
Brit. informal be dead or out of contention. - when the chips are down
informal when a very serious situation arises.
Etymology
ME: rel. to OE forcippian ‘cut off’.