Examples Word Origin
the twenty-second letter of the Greek alphabet (X, χ). the consonant sound represented by this letter. Show More
Origin of Chi by shortening
(in traditional Chinese medicine and philosophy) the vital life force that flows through the body and is supposedly regulated by acupuncture. Show More
Also Wade-Giles chi .
Origin of qi From the Chinese word qì breath
one of two dynasties that ruled in China a.d. 479–502 and, as the Northern Ch'i, a.d. 550–77. Show More
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for chi Contemporary Examples of chi Instead of a corsage, he brought me a plastic duck he'd stolen from a Chi Chi 's restaurant.
By now I'm so overwrought with chi 's and fu's and kong's and kung's that my eyes have about crossed.
In Chobits, hapless waiter Hideki ends up purchasing a “persocom,” an android called Chi , and slowly falls in love with her.
Chi , like Samantha (Scarlett Johannson), ends up becoming a transcendent being that threatens her relationship with a human.
Alfonso Signorini, editor of Chi magazine, has defended his decision to print the images.
Historical Examples of chi Me and my buddies, we just come back from fighting in Chi , Gerri.
Chi cago came to be so common a word that they began to call it "Chi ."
When he was steward of the Chi , Chung-kung asked how to rule.
Chi Huan accepted them, and for three days no court was held.
He gave forth the last cry with all his might, emphasising the “chi —or!”
British Dictionary definitions for chi the 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet (Χ, χ), a consonant, transliterated as ch or rarely kh Show More
(sometimes capital) (in Oriental medicine, martial arts, etc) vital energy believed to circulate round the body in currents Show More
Word Origin for chi Chinese, literally: energy
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
Word Origin and History for chi n. 22nd letter of the Greek alphabet, representing a -kh- sound (see ch ). The letter is shaped like an X, and so the Greek letter name was used figuratively to signify such a shape or arrangement (e.g. khiasma "two things placed crosswise;" khiastos "arranged diagonally; marked with an X;" khiazein "to mark with an 'X', to write the letter 'X'"). Some dialects used chi to represent the -ks- sound properly belonging to xi ; Latin picked this up and the sound value of chi in Latin-derived alphabets is now that of English X .
Show More
n. "physical life force," 1850, from Chinese qi "air, breath."
Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
