chip

chip1 [ tʃıp ] noun count **

▸ 1 piece of potato

▸ 2 in computers

▸ 3 small piece

▸ 4 in games for money

▸ 5 in sport

▸ + PHRASES

1. ) usually plural AMERICAN a very thin round piece of potato cooked in hot oil and eaten cold. British crisp:

Would you like some chips with your sandwich?

a ) BRITISH a FRENCH FRY:

fish/sausage/egg and chips

2. ) a very small piece of SILICON marked with electronic connections that is used in computers and other machines: MICROCHIP, SILICON CHIP

3. ) usually plural a small piece of something such as wood or glass, especially when it has broken off something:

There were chips of glass all over the floor.

wood chips: Use wood chips as mulch around trees.

a ) a place on a plate, cup, etc. where a small piece of it has broken off:

chip in: The cup had a tiny chip in it.

4. ) a small piece of plastic used instead of money when GAMBLING (=playing games for money)

5. ) in sports, the action of hitting or kicking a ball so that it goes high into the air for a short distance

be a chip off the old block INFORMAL

to look or behave like one of your parents:

Jimmy was a chip off the old block with his gray eyes and his dad's smile.

have a chip on your shoulder

to be likely to become angry or offended very easily, especially about something that other people think should not upset you:

Bert had always had a chip on his shoulder because of his accent.

when the chips are down SPOKEN

used for saying what happens when a situation becomes difficult or reaches an important point:

When the chips are down, you won't get any help from her.

=> BLUE CHIP

chip

chip 2 [ tʃıp ] verb *

1. ) intransitive or transitive if something hard chips, or you chip it, a small piece of it breaks off:

Try not to chip these cups when you wash them.

2. ) transitive to hit or kick a ball so that it goes high into the air for a short distance:

Daly chipped a great shot over the water.

,chip a`way phrasal verb transitive

1. ) to remove small pieces from something hard by hitting it with a tool:

Use a hammer to chip away the edge.

chip away at: She was chipping away at the ground with a trowel.

2. ) to gradually make something weaker, smaller, or less effective:

The company's dominance of the market is gradually being chipped away.

chip away at: Her comments were beginning to chip away at his self-confidence.

,chip `in phrasal verb INFORMAL

1. ) intransitive or transitive if people chip in, they each give some money to help pay for something:

The three of us chipped in and bought the boat between us.

The state of Ohio chipped in $700,000 for the project.

2. ) intransitive to add something to someone else's conversation:

I'd just like to chip in, Bill, if I may.

Give her a kiss, Robbie, chipped in one of the photographers.

,chip `off phrasal verb transitive

to remove small pieces of something from a surface by hitting it:

Chip off any loose paint.