chip JUST WRITTEN FOR YOU
/tʃɪp/ · chip
noun
- A small piece broken off from a larger piece of solid material. She found a chip of glass on the floor after the window shattered.
- A damaged area of a surface where a small piece has been broken off. The mug has a chip on its rim.
- A token used in place of cash, especially in games or vending machines. He inserted a chip into the arcade machine to start the game.
- A thin slice of potato that is deep‑fried, known as a chip in British English. We ordered fish and chips for dinner.
verb
- To cut or break off a small piece from something. She chipped away at the ice with a hammer.
- To cause a small piece to break off; to damage a surface. He accidentally chipped the paint on the door.
- To contribute money or effort toward a common cause. Everyone chipped in to buy a birthday present.
Did you know? The word ‘chip’ was first used for tiny wood fragments, but by the mid‑20th century it was adopted for the tiny semiconductor devices that power modern computers.