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.
a fissure or crack, especially in the skin.
Scot. a knock; rap.
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.
Chaplain.
chapter.
(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)
(usually plural) a cracked or sore patch on the skin caused by chapping
a knock
chaplain
chapter
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
First recorded in 1570–80; short for chapman
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English chop, chappe “jaw, jawbone”; perhaps special use of chap 1
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.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"This little chap causes havoc on the cars around here."
From BBC ● Jun. 2, 2026
He sips small amounts of ice water because drinking too much is akin to licking one’s lips, causing them to chap.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 3, 2026
As an honest broker from the moderate left, notwithstanding his Trump fixation, Mr. Traub may be the chap to get the message across.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 16, 2026
But this stammering, rather dull chap doesn’t come across as a genius.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 25, 2025
“My dear chap, I can’t see an inch.”
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
"I went into that assessment expecting that I would be detaining that chap. Based on what we saw he was not detainable under the Mental Health Act," he told the inquiry.
From BBC ● May 7, 2026
Dannii Minogue wrote on Instagram: "The cheekiest chap. His voice, smile and dancing feet will be missed by so many."
From BBC ● Nov. 9, 2023
In his March 30 Free for All letter, “Chad cheers chap. Chap cheers Chad.,”
From Washington Post ● Apr. 12, 2019
The former England striker added on Twitter: "He's got one hell of a job on his hands but seems a decent chap. Needs a sizeable new broom."
From BBC ● Feb. 26, 2016
“No worries, Faucet old chap. I’ll buy you a new one,” Lord Fredrick offered.
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
The three-hour extravaganza of chaps and cowboy boots has been lauded for its high-energy and artistry, and has delighted fans with appearances by Beyoncé and Jay-Z's daughters, Blue, 13, and Rumi, aged eight.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2025
I saw all these men in jeans, most in boots, cowboy hats and some in leather chaps.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 20, 2025
Attendees wore bedazzled cowboy boots and hats; chaps; fringe and leather; red, white and blue; outfits inspired by Beyoncé’s past tours and video looks; and, of course, denim on denim on denim.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 2, 2025
“The chaps there, we call them,” he said, a term I had never heard for chapines — Guatemalans.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 21, 2025
Wearing leather chaps, they seem scornful, mean, powerful all at once.
From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
The third day of the fire, he woke up with a runny nose, sore throat and chapped lips, he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 25, 2026
I know people are chapped about start/stop systems, which cycle engines off and on when the vehicle is not moving, in order to save fuel.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 11, 2025
"They just went to a random door and chapped it."
From BBC ● Nov. 25, 2025
Herbalists recommend calendula lotions, creams, and ointments for chapped skin, eczema, minor cuts and burns, diaper rash, insect bites, hemorrhoids, athlete’s foot, and varicose veins.
From National Geographic ● Feb. 7, 2024
But before she steps on the gas, Uhmma holds the steering wheel tightly with both chapped hands.
From "A Step from Heaven" by An Na
Applying a thick layer of lip balm with moisturizing ingredients like petrolatum or shea butter before bedtime will also nourish your lips and prevent chapping, Rogers said.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 5, 2024
Also included was a jar of cold cream to prevent her skin from chapping in the various climates she would encounter.
From New York Times ● Jan. 16, 2020
For dry lips, plain petroleum jelly is an effective and cheap way to prevent chapping, Burkemper said.
From US News ● Feb. 20, 2016
They secrete oil to cleanse the nipple opening and prevent chapping and cracking of the nipple during breastfeeding.
From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013
In the winter he used oil to prevent chapping, and he kept the cuticles pushed down and his nails always filed to the shape of his finger-tips.
From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers
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.
