chip
chip — noun
1. long, thin pieces of potato that have been deep-fried until the outside is crisp
long, thin pieces of potato that have been deep-fried until the outside is crisp and the inside is soft; usually served hot as part of a meal, often with fish or meat
The children ordered fish and chips from the shop near the beach.
collocation: fish and chips
Theo grabbed a bag of chips to eat with his burger at lunch.
countable: a bag of chips
A plate of hot chips with vinegar is a classic British snack.
The café serves its chips with mayonnaise instead of ketchup.
- fish and chips
- a portion of chips
- a bag of chips
- hot chips
- chips and gravy
- french fries
American term for the same food; often called fries for short
- fries
short informal term used mainly in American and Canadian English
Usage Note
In the US, these are called french fries or fries. In the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, chips always means hot fried potato strips.
Common Mistakes
❗ 'I bought a bag of chips at the gas station' (when you mean crisps in British English). ✅ In British English, 'a bag of chips' means hot fried potatoes; 'a bag of crisps' means the thin bagged snack. — In the UK, 'chips' and 'crisps' are two completely different foods.
2. potato sliced extremely thin, then fried or baked until crisp; sold in sealed ba
potato sliced extremely thin, then fried or baked until crisp; sold in sealed bags as a snack, often with added flavours such as salt, vinegar, or barbecue seasoning
Yara opened a bag of salt-and-vinegar crisps during the train ride.
countable: a bag of crisps
The kids shared a large bag of potato crisps while watching the film.
variety note: 'crisps' in UK, 'chips' in US
The Watanabe family bought assorted crisps for the New Year party.
These crisps taste strongly of barbecue and have a satisfying crunch.
- a bag/packet of crisps
- salt and vinegar crisps
- ready-salted crisps
- crisp flavour
- potato chips
American term for the same product; used globally on packaging
- crisps
standard British term; singular crisp is rare
Usage Note
In British English, the thin bagged snack is called a crisp (singular) or crisps (plural). In American English, the same product is called a chip or chips. This is the opposite of the hot-fried-potato sense.
Common Mistakes
❗ 'I ate a packet of chips' (meaning crisps in UK). ✅ In the UK, say 'a packet of crisps' for the thin bagged snack. — ‘Chips’ in the UK means hot fried potatoes; ‘crisps’ means the bagged snack.
3. a crunchy snack made from corn, plantain, or similar foods, cut into thin flat p
a crunchy snack made from corn, plantain, or similar foods, cut into thin flat pieces then fried or baked; served cold, often alongside salsa, guacamole, or other dips
Diego dipped a tortilla chip into the bowl of spicy salsa.
collocation: tortilla chip + salsa/guacamole
The party guests finished two large bags of corn chips before dinner.
Kofi tried sweet plantain chips for the first time at the Caribbean market.
example: plantain chips
These pita chips are baked, not fried, so they have less oil.
- tortilla chips
- corn chips
- pita chips
- plantain chips
- chips and dip
- salsa
- tortilla chips
the most common type, made from corn tortillas cut into triangles and fried
- corn chips
made from deep-fried cornmeal; thicker and crunchier than tortilla chips
4. a small section that has come away from a larger hard object, such as glass, woo
a small section that has come away from a larger hard object, such as glass, wood, stone, or ceramic; or the damaged spot left behind on the object after that small section has fallen off
A chip of blue paint fell from the old wooden window frame.
countable: a chip of [material]
Leila noticed a small chip on the edge of her favourite coffee mug.
damaged spot meaning: a chip on [object]
The stone floor had several chips where heavy furniture had been dragged across it.
Rohan swept up the glass chips after the vase fell off the shelf.
- a chip in [object]
- a chip of [material]
- wood chips
- glass chips
- paint chips
- stone chips
Usage Note
This sense covers both the broken-off fragment (a chip of wood) and the resulting flaw or gap on the original object (a chip in the cup). Context makes the meaning clear.
Common Mistakes
❗ 'There is a chip of my phone screen.' ✅ 'There is a chip in my phone screen.' — When describing the damaged spot, use 'a chip in [object]', not 'a chip of [object]'.
5. a tiny, teardrop-shaped bit of chocolate used in baking cookies, muffins, and ca
a tiny, teardrop-shaped bit of chocolate used in baking cookies, muffins, and cakes, or added as a flavour to ice cream and other sweet foods
Priya stirred a cup of chocolate chips into the cookie dough.
collocation: chocolate chip / chocolate chips
Aiko ordered a scoop of chocolate-chip ice cream after dinner.
compound: chocolate-chip ice cream
The bakery sells thick chocolate-chip cookies that stay soft in the middle.
Hana used dark chocolate chips instead of milk ones for the brownie recipe.
- chocolate chip
- chocolate-chip cookie
- chocolate-chip muffin
- chocolate-chip ice cream
- dark/milk/white chocolate chips
- chocolate drop
less common term for the same product in baking
- chocolate morsel
formal or commercial term; less common in everyday speech
Usage Note
Almost always used in the compound chocolate chip or as part of a compound noun: chocolate-chip cookie, chocolate-chip muffin, etc.
6. a tiny slab of silicon containing millions of interconnected electronic circuits
a tiny slab of silicon containing millions of interconnected electronic circuits, used inside computers, smartphones, and other digital devices to process or store information
The new smartphone runs on a faster chip that uses less power.
collocation: a faster chip / chip + uses power
Taiwan is one of the world's leading producers of computer chips.
The engineer designed a chip that can process video in real time.
collocation: design / produce a chip
A tiny chip inside the card stores the customer's personal data securely.
- computer chip
- silicon chip
- microchip
- chip design
- chip manufacturer
- chip shortage
- chip technology
- microchip
same meaning; slightly more formal
- integrated circuit
technical term for the complete circuit assembly on the chip
- silicon chip
emphasises the material the chip is made from
Usage Note
Often used interchangeably with microchip, integrated circuit, or silicon chip. In technical contexts, chip specifically refers to the small semiconductor die; in everyday use, it refers to the whole packaged component.
7. a small, flat, round disc made of plastic or clay, used in casinos and card game
a small, flat, round disc made of plastic or clay, used in casinos and card games to represent a specific amount of money that players bet with
The gambler placed a stack of red chips on the number 17.
collocation: stack of chips / place chips on [bet]
Nadia cashed in her blue chips at the counter before leaving the casino.
Each player started the poker game with fifty chips of equal value.
The dealer pushed a pile of chips across the green felt table.
- poker chip
- casino chip
- stack of chips
- cash in chips
- chip value
- coloured chips
- poker chip
specific to poker; the most common type of gambling chip
- token
more general term for a disc used to represent money or value
- counter
formal term; commonly used in board games as well
Usage Note
Different colours represent different monetary values; for example, white chips usually have the lowest value and black chips the highest.
8. a short hit or kick that lifts a ball on a steep, upward arc and covers little g
a short hit or kick that lifts a ball on a steep, upward arc and covers little ground, used in golf, soccer, and tennis as a tactical move to clear an obstacle or drop the ball softly onto a target
The golfer played a perfect chip from the edge of the green to within a metre of the hole.
golf: chip from [location] to [target]
Tariq's chip over the defender set up the winning goal for the team.
In tennis, a chip shot can break your opponent's rhythm by keeping the ball low.
tennis: chip shot + break rhythm
The coach taught the beginners how to execute a basic chip in golf using a sand wedge.
- chip shot
- play a chip
- hit a chip
- chip and run
- chip over [someone/something]
- chip shot
full term for the same action; used especially in golf
- pitch shot
a golf shot similar to a chip but with a higher trajectory and more spin
- lob
a high, arching shot in tennis or soccer, similar but usually longer in distance
Usage Note
In golf, a chip shot typically keeps the ball low and lets it roll towards the hole. In soccer, a chip lifts the ball over an opponent's head. In tennis, a chip is a short slice shot.
chip in
phrasal verbto interrupt a conversation by saying something, especially when other people are talking; or to contribute money, time, or effort to something with other people
Feel free to chip in if you have any ideas during the meeting.
Everyone at the office chipped in to buy a leaving present for the manager.
chip away at
phrasal verbto gradually reduce or destroy something, or to make small repeated efforts to achieve something over a long period
The constant criticism chipped away at her confidence until she decided to quit.
The sculptor chipped away at the block of marble for months to reveal the figure inside.
to be angry or upset about something that happened in the past, and behave in a way that shows you feel you have been treated unfairly
Ever since he lost the competition, he has had a chip on his shoulder about the judges’ decision.
Yusuf had a chip on his shoulder because his older brother always got more attention.
when you are in a difficult or serious situation that tests your character or abilities
When the chips are down, you find out who your real friends are.
The team played their best when the chips were down in the final minutes of the game.
a person who is very similar to one of their parents in character or behaviour, especially a son who resembles his father
Young Ravi loves fixing cars with his dad — he’s a real chip off the old block.
cash in your chips
idiomThis idiom means to die.
Old Mr. Jenkins cashed in his chips peacefully at home.
Did you hear that the famous singer cashed in her chips?
This phrase describes a person who closely resembles one of their parents in appearance or behavior.
Maya is a chip off the old block; she paints like her mother.
Brian's son is a chip off the old block, always fixing things.
This idiom means to feel angry or resentful about a past event and become easily offended when it is mentioned.
Sara has a chip on her shoulder about losing the competition.
Diego has a chip on his shoulder regarding his childhood poverty.
have had your chips
idiomThis idiom means to be in a situation where defeat or death is certain.
After that mistake, I think we have had our chips.
The team had had their chips when their star player got injured.
chip — verb
1. to accidentally cause a small piece to break away from a hard object such as gla
to accidentally cause a small piece to break away from a hard object such as glass, wood, ceramic, or stone, leaving a damaged spot on the original object
Zane accidentally chipped the edge of the sink when he dropped a heavy pan.
transitive: chip the edge of [object]
Be careful with that antique plate — the paint chips very easily.
intransitive: [material] chips easily
A piece of the ceramic tile chipped off when the shelf was installed.
phrasal: chip + off
Ines chipped her favourite mug when she knocked it against the kitchen tap.
- chip a tooth/cup/plate/mug
- chip off
- chip away
- chip easily
- badly chipped
Grammar Patterns
chip + object
chip + object + off/from + object
chip + adverb (off, away)
Usage Note
Often used with a particle (chip off, chip away). The object can be the whole item (chip the cup) or the piece removed (chip a piece off the cup). The intransitive use describes the material's tendency to break easily.
Common Mistakes
❗ 'I chipped off the table when I moved it.' ✅ 'I chipped the table when I moved it.' or 'A piece of the table chipped off when I moved it.' — 'Chip' needs a direct object (the thing damaged) or the phrase must describe what broke off.
2. to hit or kick a ball so that it rises into the air and travels only a short dis
to hit or kick a ball so that it rises into the air and travels only a short distance, used in golf, soccer, and tennis as a tactical move to go over an obstacle or land the ball in a specific spot
The striker chipped the ball over the goalkeeper and into the empty net.
soccer pattern: chip + object + over + [person/obstacle]
The golfer chipped the ball onto the green from about thirty yards away.
golf pattern: chip + object + onto [target area]
Amara chipped the tennis ball low over the net to catch her opponent off balance.
tennis: chip + ball + [adverb/preposition]
The midfielder chipped a perfect pass to the winger, who scored immediately.
- chip the ball
- chip over [someone]
- chip onto the green
- chip past [someone]
- chip a pass
- chip a shot
Grammar Patterns
chip + object
chip + object + over/past + object
Usage Note
The same verb applies across golf, soccer, and tennis. In all three sports, the defining characteristic is a short, arcing trajectory rather than a long, flat hit.
Word family
- chippedadjectiveB1
- chippingnounB2
- chippernounC1
- chipmunknounA2
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/4
All four words describe a small piece broken from a larger object, but they differ in shape and material. A chip is a small, often flat piece that breaks from a hard edge or surface, like a chip of paint or a chip in a mug. A fragment is more general and can be any shape, from a fragment of bone to a fragment of a letter. A splinter is long, thin, and pointed, typically of wood or glass, and often gets stuck in the skin. A shard is a sharp-edged piece of broken pottery, glass, or metal, like the shards of a broken vase. A sliver is very thin and narrow, almost like a thread, such as a sliver of glass or wood. For everyday use: 'There's a chip in my favourite bowl' (small edge damage); 'I got a splinter in my finger' (thin wood piece); 'She stepped on a shard of glass' (sharp, dangerous).
Common collocations
Phrases
- chip off the old block
- when the chips are down
- chips and dip
- fish and chips
- chip on your shoulder
- chip away at
Etymology
The word chip comes from Old English cipp, meaning a small piece of wood or a beam. It is related to Middle Dutch kippen (to split) and Old Norse kippa (to pull sharply). The sense of a small broken piece dates from the 1300s. The food senses emerged in the 1800s: hot fried potato strips in Britain and thin bagged potato crisps in the US. The gambling token sense appeared in the 1880s. The computer microchip sense was coined in the 1950s, short for microchip, drawing on the idea of a small wafer of semiconductor material.