chassis
Americannoun
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Automotive. the frame, wheels, and machinery of a motor vehicle, on which the body is supported.
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Ordnance. the frame or railway on which a gun carriage moves backward and forward.
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the main landing gear of an aircraft; that portion of the landing gear that supports an aircraft.
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Radio and Television. a frame for mounting the circuit components of a radio or television set.
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a construction forming the sides, top, and bottom of a cabinet, showcase, or the like.
noun
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the steel frame, wheels, engine, and mechanical parts of a motor vehicle, to which the body is attached
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electronics a mounting for the circuit components of an electrical or electronic device, such as a radio or television
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the landing gear of an aircraft
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obsolete a wooden framework for a window, screen, etc
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the frame on which a cannon carriage moves backwards and forwards
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slang the body of a person, esp a woman
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of chassis
1655–65; < French châssis frame; akin to chase 2
Explanation
A chassis is the frame of a car. If you warp the chassis of your mom’s car when you make a Dukes of Hazzard jump, she's going to be mad. Pronounce chassis CHASS-ee (singular) and CHASS-eez (plural). Chassis comes from the Latin capsa, meaning box. In the 1600s, chassis referred to window frames, and starting with early automobile production, acquired its dominant meaning, i.e., the box that is the frame for the car. It also means other kinds of frame/boxes too — if you have a radio or a stereo, the outside box is called a chassis.
Vocabulary lists containing chassis
The Lightning Thief
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The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind
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National Spelling Bee '14: Prelims Round 2
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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.
A payment dispute between Stellantis and ZF Chassis Modules has halted shipments and idled a Mexican factory.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026
BRM developed the Type 15 Chassis Number 1 car, with a V16 supercharged engine, to take part.
From BBC • Nov. 30, 2025
The red "Chassis 229" Ferrari raced by German world champion driver Schumacher nine times could fetch up to $9.4 million, according to the sellers.
From Reuters • Nov. 4, 2022
For those more interested in building their own drag car, Dodge also will offer a $89,999 Challenger Mopar Drag Pak Rolling Chassis without an engine or transmission through its Direct Connection program.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 18, 2022
Renault, on the other hand, is planning a more comprehensive adoption of Qualcomm’s Digital Chassis, intending on using Qualcomm’s platforms for connectivity, driver assistance, cockpit experiences, and cloud services on upcoming Renault vehicles.
From The Verge • Jan. 4, 2022
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.
