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May 19, 2017 Word of the Day

chip /ˈtʃɪp/ verb
chip
/ˈtʃɪp/
verb

chips; chipped; chipping

The paint on the doors is chipping off.
The paint on the doors is chipping off.
Definition of CHIP

1 a [+ object] : to break off a small piece from (something)

  • I bit into something hard and chipped my tooth.

  • He fell and chipped a bone in his knee.

  • She chipped a nail. [=she broke a small piece of hardened nail polish off a fingernail]

  • a chipped cup/tooth

b [no object] : to break or come off in small pieces

  • China chips easily.

  • The paint had chipped off/away.

2 a always followed by an adverb or preposition, [+ object] : to break off (something) especially with a tool

  • He chipped away the ice from the car's windshield.

  • The sculptor chipped away/off bits of stone.

  • The geologist chipped [=cut] the specimen out of the rock face.

b [no object] : to hit something with a tool in order to break off small pieces — usually + away

  • The sculptor chipped away at the stone/marble.

— often used figuratively

  • There have been endless efforts to chip away at [=gradually reduce] social prejudice.

  • His failures chipped away at his self-confidence.

3 : to hit or kick (a ball) so that it goes a short distance : to hit or kick a chip shot

[+ object]

  • The golfer chipped the ball onto the green.

  • She chipped the soccer ball over the goalie's head.

  • He chipped a pass to his teammate.

[no object]

  • The golfer chipped onto the green.

  • She chipped in for par. [=she made a par by hitting a chip shot that went into the hole]

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