chips; chipped; chipping
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]