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Definition chip

Etymology 1

From Middle English chip, chippe, from Old English ?ipp (�chip; small piece of wood�), from Old English *?ippian (�to cut; hew�) � attested in Old English for?ippian (�to cut off�) �, from Proto-Germanic *kipp- (�to cut; carve; hack; chop�), from Proto-Indo-European *?ey- (�to split; divide; germinate; sprout�). Related to Dutch kip, keep (�notch; nick; score�), Dutch kippen (�to hatch�), German Low German kippen (�to cut; clip; trim; shorten�), German kipfen (�to chop off the tip; snip�), Old Swedish kippa (�to chop�). Compare also chop.

The formally similar Old English ?ipp, ?ypp, ?yp (�a beam; log; stock; post�), from Proto-Germanic *kippaz (�log; beam�), whence Old Saxon kip (�post�), Old High German kipfa, chipfa (�axle, stave�) and Old Norse keppr (�cudgel, club�), ultimately from Latin cippus (�stake; pale; post�), is a different, unrelated word.

Noun

chip (plural chips)

A small piece broken from a larger piece of solid material.
A damaged area of a surface where a small piece has been broken off.
(games, gambling) A token used in place of cash.
(slang, dated) A sovereign (the coin).
(electronics) A circuit fabricated in one piece on a small, thin substrate.
(electronics) A hybrid device mounted in a substrate, containing electronic circuitry and miniaturised mechanical, chemical and/or biochemical devices.
(Britain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, especially in the plural) A fried strip of potato of square or rectangular cross-section; a french fry.
(US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, especially in the plural) A thin, crisp, fried slice of potato, or sometimes another vegetable.
(sports) A shot during which the ball travels more predominantly upwards than in a regular shot, as to clear an obstacle.
(curling) A takeout that hits a rock at an angle.
A dried piece of dung used as fuel.
(New Zealand, northern) A receptacle, usually for strawberries or other fruit.
(cooking) A small, near-conical piece of food added in baking.
A small rectangle of colour printed on coated paper for colour selection and matching. A virtual equivalent in software applications.
(nautical) The triangular piece of wood attached to the log line.
(historical) Wood or Cuban palm leaf split into slips, or straw plaited in a special manner, for making hats or bonnets.
(archaic, derogatory) Anything dried up, withered, or without flavour.
(golf) A low shot that travels further along the ground than it does in the air.

Etymology 2

From Middle English chippen, from Old English *?ippian (�to cut; hew�) � attested in Old English for?ippian (�to cut off�) �, from Proto-Germanic *kipp- (�to cut; carve; hack; chop�), from Proto-Indo-European *?ey- (�to split; divide; germinate; sprout�). Related to Dutch kippen (�to hatch�), German Low German kippen (�to cut; clip; trim; shorten�), German kipfen (�to chop off the tip; snip�), Old Swedish kippa (�to chop�). Compare also chop.

Verb

chip (third-person singular simple present chips, present participle chipping, simple past and past participle chipped)

(transitive) To chop or cut into small pieces.
(transitive) To break small pieces from.
(transitive, sports) To play a shot hitting the ball predominantly upwards rather than forwards.
(transitive, sports) In association football, specifically, to play a shot on goal by kicking the ball in an arc, over the goalkeeper's reach. (Such shots are often played in a mostly horizontal direction, particularly when taken from distance). In this usage, the opposing goalkeeper is often the direct object of the verb.
(transitive, automotive) to upgrade an engine management system, usually to increase power.
(intransitive) To become chipped.
(intransitive, card games, often with "in") To ante (up).
(transitive, informal) To fit (an animal) with a microchip.
(Britain, transitive, often with "in") to contribute.
(also, to chip at) to make fun of