champ

[ champ, chomp ]

/ tʃæmp, tʃɒmp /

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See synonyms for: champ / champer on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to bite upon or grind, especially impatiently: The horses champed the oats.

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

to mash; crush.

verb (used without object)

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

noun

the act of champing.

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Idioms about champ

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

Also chomp.

Origin of champ

1520–30; perhaps akin to chap¹; see chop¹

OTHER WORDS FROM champ

champer, nounchampy, adjective

Other definitions for champ (2 of 2)

champ²

[ champ ]

/ tʃæmp /

noun Informal.

a champion.

Origin of champ

By shortening

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use champ in a sentence

The Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and 2017 remain the lone team to repeat as champs since the 2004-05 lockout brought us the salary cap.
The Tampa Bay Lightning Are Skating It Back By Sliding Just Under The Salary Cap|Julian McKenzie|February 2, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
There were the wild, largely unorganized olden days when polls decided the national champ, the 1992-94 Bowl Coalition, the 1995-97 Bowl Alliance and the 1998-2013 Bowl Championship Series.
College Football Playoff scenarios: Who’s already in and who needs help this weekend|Patrick Stevens|December 17, 2020|Washington Post
There are no emails for us to wade through—even if we were champing at the bits.
The IRS Email Double Standard|Matt Lewis|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
My two sons—Hugo and Thomas, ages ten and thirteen—are champing at the bit.
Peter Godwin on How to Take Your Kids on an African Safari|Condé Nast Traveler|June 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST

The engine stood champing like an impatient horse beside her, for she was almost abreast of the tender.
The Incendiary|W. A. (William Augustine) Leahy
I thought the champing would have roused the Queen who hath been watching all the day.
The Royal Pawn of Venice|Mrs. Lawrence Turnbull
The high-spirited mules were at the door, impatiently champing their bits.
The Complete Works of Artemus Ward|Charles Farrar Browne (AKA Artemus Ward)
There was a loud champing sound outside, and occasionally growls or grumbling.
Two Little Savages|Ernest Thompson Seton
Guy was making a failure of the fire, and the Bear began nosing nearer, champing his teeth and grunting.
Two Little Savages|Ernest Thompson Seton

British Dictionary definitions for champ (1 of 2)

champ¹

/ (tʃæmp) /

verb

to munch (food) noisily like a horse

(when intr, often foll by on, at, etc) to bite (something) nervously or impatiently; gnaw

champ at the bit or chafe at the bit informal to be impatient to start work, a journey, etc

noun

the act or noise of champing

Ulster dialect a dish, originating in Ireland, of mashed potatoes and spring onions or leeks

Derived forms of champ

champer, noun

Word Origin for champ

C16: probably of imitative origin

British Dictionary definitions for champ (2 of 2)

champ²

/ (tʃæmp) /

noun

informal short for champion (def. 1)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with champ

champ

In addition to the idiom beginning with champ

champ at the bit

also see:

like a champ

champ

Idioms about champ

Origin of champ

OTHER WORDS FROM champ

Other definitions for champ (2 of 2)

Origin of champ

Words related to champ

How to use champ in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for champ (1 of 2)

Derived forms of champ

Word Origin for champ

British Dictionary definitions for champ (2 of 2)

Other Idioms and Phrases with champ