chips

Everyday

1. In the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, chips are long pieces of fried potato, called «fries» or «French fries» in the USA. tree →
2. In the USA and Canada, chips are thin, crisp slices of fried potato sold in packets, called «crisps» in the UK and Ireland (in Australia and NZ, «chips» can mean both). tree →
3. Chips are small broken pieces of wood, stone or other material. tree →
4. Chips (silicon chips, microchips) are tiny electronic parts inside computers and phones. tree →
5. Chips are small plastic tokens used in games. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life, «fish and chips» is a classic British and Australian meal; chips are a treat, not an everyday food, because they are high in fat and salt. In science and technology, computer chips hold the circuits that make devices work, and pets can have a microchip under the skin so lost pets are returned. In art, «chips» of paint or wood. Phrases: «fish and chips», «a bag of chips», «chocolate chips», «wood chips», «microchips», «when the chips are down» (when things are hard).

Examples

• We had fish and chips at the seaside. tree →
• In America, I asked for chips and got a packet of crisps. tree →
• Chips are tasty, but too many are not healthy. tree →
• Chocolate chips make cookies delicious. tree →
• Wood chips cover the playground. tree →
• Computers are full of tiny chips. tree →
• Our dog has a microchip, so the vet could find his owners. tree →
• Put some salt and vinegar on your chips. tree →
• "But I would rather be chopped to chips," said the elder. tree →

Note

Plural of «chip». Same word, different foods: UK chips = US fries; US chips = UK crisps. In maths word problems about «chips», check if it means food, counters or tokens; counting works the same.

In Jewish tradition

Here it means small broken pieces of stone or wood left from a smashed building.

Interpretation. Amos says God will break great and small houses alike. Tradition reads this as a warning that rich and poor will be judged for injustice.

Examples

• For, behold, the LORD commandeth, and the great house shall be smitten into splinters, and the little house into chips. (Prophets AMO.6.11, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Plural of «chip». Same word, different foods: UK chips = US fries; US chips = UK crisps. In maths word problems about «chips», check if it means food, counters or tokens; counting works the same.