chip

Everyday

1. A chip is a small piece broken off something hard, like wood, stone or a plate. tree →
2. A chip is the small mark left where a piece broke off, like a chip in a mug. tree →
3. In the UK, Ireland, Australia and NZ, chips are long pieces of fried potato (called «fries» in the US). tree →
4. In the US and Canada, chips are thin crunchy slices of potato from a packet (called «crisps» in the UK and Ireland). tree →
5. A computer chip is a tiny piece of material with circuits that makes electronic things work. tree →
6. To chip means to break a small piece off, or to kick or hit a ball gently into the air. tree →
7. A chip can be a small counter used in games, or a microchip in a pet. tree →

In the lessons

Everyday: fish and chips, a chipped mug, a chocolate chip cookie, a microchip in your cat or dog with an ID number. In science and technology lessons: computer chips are inside phones, tablets and calculators. Safety: throw away chipped glass and china because it can cut. Phrases: «chip in» (give some money or help), «a chip off the old block» (like a parent), «a chip on your shoulder» (feeling hard done by), «when the chips are down» (when things are difficult).

Examples

• We had fish and chips at the seaside. tree →
• There's a chip in my favourite mug. tree →
• Can I have a packet of chips? tree →
• Chocolate chip cookies are my favourite. tree →
• The phone has a tiny computer chip inside. tree →
• Our dog has a microchip so he can be found if he gets lost. tree →
• She chipped the ball over the goalkeeper. tree →
• Everyone chipped in to buy the teacher a present. tree →
• Throw away chipped glasses, as they can cut you. tree →
• There goes a shaving thinking of nothing in the world but of itself, a mere chip! tree →

Note

Big trap between countries: UK «chips» = US «fries»; US «chips» = UK «crisps». Double the p: «chipped, chipping». Countable: «a chip, chips».