chap
1 Americanverb (used with object)
-
to crack, roughen, and redden (the skin).
The windy, cold weather chapped her lips.
-
to cause (the ground, wood, etc.) to split, crack, or open in clefts.
The summer heat and drought chapped the riverbank.
verb (used without object)
noun
-
a fissure or crack, especially in the skin.
-
Scot. a knock; rap.
noun
-
Chiefly British Informal: Older Use. a fellow; man or boy.
-
Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S. a baby or young child.
-
British Dialect. a customer.
noun
abbreviation
-
Chaplain.
-
chapter.
verb
-
(of the skin) to make or become raw and cracked, esp by exposure to cold
-
(of a clock) to strike (the hour)
-
to knock (at a door, window, etc)
noun
-
(usually plural) a cracked or sore patch on the skin caused by chapping
-
a knock
abbreviation
-
chaplain
-
chapter
noun
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
has chappedperfect 3rd person singular
-
have chappedperfect
-
am chappingprogressive 1st person singular
-
is chappingprogressive 3rd person singular
-
have been chappingperfect progressive
-
has been chappingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
-
chappingparticiple
-
chapssingular 3rd person
-
are chappingprogressive
Past
-
had chappedperfect
-
had been chappingperfect progressive
-
was chappingprogressive singular
-
were chappingprogressive plural
-
chappedsimple
-
chappedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of chap1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English chappen “(of a fruit) to split open, burst; (of skin) to crack, chap”; cognate with Dutch kappen “to cut”; akin to chip 1
Origin of chap2
First recorded in 1570–80; short for chapman
Origin of chap3
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English chop, chappe “jaw, jawbone”; perhaps special use of chap 1
Explanation
A chap is a guy or a fellow — a boy or man who's a friend, acquaintance, or a friendly stranger. You might ask a chap on the bus if the seat beside him is free. You can refer to any male person as a chap, and you can also address him that way: "Hello there, old chap! I haven't seen you in ages!" It's more common in Britain than the US, where the chap will know what you mean but might look at you oddly. Chaps also means a cowboy's leather pants, and when it's a verb chap means to become dry, cracked, and painful from wind or cold.
Vocabulary lists containing chap
"Rikki-Tikki-Tavi" by Rudyard Kipling
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Excerpt from "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Long Way Down
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The state claims partial ownership, through easements, of three of the four sites, according to Eric Holcomb, division chief of the Commission for Historical and Architectural Planning, or CHAP, a city agency.
From Washington Post • Mar. 30, 2021
X. 1, 5 115 2 to 4 72 6 to 14 116 15 to 20 117 21 to 26 118 27 to 35 119 36 to 42 120 CHAP.
From Walks and Words of Jesus A Paragraph Harmony of the Four Evangelists by Olmsted, M. N.
Of the Accumulation of Capital, or of productive and unproductive Labour 135 CHAP.
From An Inquiry Into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations by Garnier, Germain
V. 1 to 3 39 4 to 13 40 14 to 19 41 20 to 24 42 25 to 30 43 31 to 36 44 37 to 45 45 46 to 48 46 CHAP.
From Walks and Words of Jesus A Paragraph Harmony of the Four Evangelists by Olmsted, M. N.
Denis.—The abbey of St. Denis.—Sceaux, popular festivities here.—Castle of Vincennes.—Duc d'Enghién.—Ancient oak.—Confluence of the Seine and the Marne.—The author attends mass in the Royal Chapel at the Tuilleries.141 CHAP.
From Four Years in France or, Narrative of an English Family's Residence there during that Period; Preceded by some Account of the Conversion of the Author to the Catholic Faith by Beste, Henry Digby
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.