champ

¹

[ champ, chomp ]

verb (used with object)

1. to bite upon or grind, especially impatiently:

   The horses champed the oats.

2. to crush with the teeth and chew vigorously or noisily; munch.
3. to mash; crush.

verb (used without object)

1. to make vigorous chewing or biting movements with the jaws and teeth.

noun

1. the act of champing.

champ

²

[ champ ]

noun

, Informal.

1. a champion.

champ

¹

/ tʃæmp /

verb

1. to munch (food) noisily like a horse
2. whenintr, often foll by on, at, etc to bite (something) nervously or impatiently; gnaw
3. champ at the bit informal.
   champ at the bitchafe at the bit to be impatient to start work, a journey, etc

noun

1. the act or noise of champing
2. dialect.
   a dish, originating in Ireland, of mashed potatoes and spring onions or leeks

champ

²

/ tʃæmp /

noun

1. See champion
   informal.
   short for champion

Derived Forms

• ˈchamper, noun

Other Words From

• champer noun
• champy adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of champ¹

1520–30; perhaps akin to chap ¹; chop ¹

Origin of champ²

By shortening

Word History and Origins

Origin of champ¹

C16: probably of imitative origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. champ at the bit, to betray impatience, as to begin some action.

More idioms and phrases containing champ

In addition to the idiom beginning with champ , also see like a champ .

Example Sentences

The defending champs raced out of the starting gates, executing a fairly significant rotation overhaul with remarkable precision.

From Washington Post

There will be a Big 12 champ, and it will play in a New Year’s Six bowl, but there’s little reason for playoff tea leaf readers to fret about the league over the next four weeks.

From Washington Post

The Dodgers are not only the new champs, but they have the No.

From FiveThirtyEight

On top of looking dashing, it also moved like a champ, due to the brilliant construction of polyester, elastane, and nylon.

From Outside Online

The best bet is that we’re going back to the future, and value will repeat as champ.

From Fortune

The reigning Emmy champ coming off her best season yet on The Good Wife, Margulies could very well set that record, too.

From The Daily Beast

Three-time champ Tony Stewart is reviled—and beloved—for his take-no-prisoners, borderline-unhinged attitude.

From The Daily Beast

The clock strikes zero, and the champ is still the champ, 61-56.

From The Daily Beast

Champ refers to a field, Bertin was likely the original owner of that field, and the name still holds today.

From The Daily Beast

He assured me that Hillary was a champ when it came to separating her public service from her private practice.

From The Daily Beast

Ils travaillaient dans le champ, voisin du bois, je suis all les voir tandis que vous marchiez en avant.

From Project Gutenberg

With the Champ de Mars I was to become unpleasantly acquainted eight years subsequently.

From Project Gutenberg

I think you'll have a whole vaudeville show at Champ-au-Haut for the rest of your days—and gratis.

From Project Gutenberg

In passing Champ-au-Haut, he looked up at the house; here and there a light shone behind drawn shades.

From Project Gutenberg

His mother never mentioned the matter to him; indeed, she shunned all mention, when possible, of Champ-au-Haut and its owner.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• chomp