a city in central California.
a male given name.
First recorded in 1965–70; from Spanish: “boy,” of expressive origin, representing a common Romance stem found in words for small things; compare Latin ciccum “bagatelle, trifle, worthless object” ( see chinchy ( def. ))
Short for chicalote ( def. )
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Now his female colleagues call Raúl chico sensación — sensation boy!
From New York Times ● Mar. 1, 2011
“Calm down, chico, calm down. She might hear you,” Paco cautions, gesturing toward Lieutenant Rojas’s tent.
From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García
Leo at once called him Chico, because Chickango had caught him, and chico in Spanish means “little.”
From In the Wilds of Africa by Pearse, Alfred
Properly the fem. of the adj. chico, which is also used commonly for a boy, especially as a mode of address, or to call attention, hé, chico!
From The Bible in Spain - Vol. 2 [of 2] by Borrow, George Henry
Uses.—The chico is one of the popular fruits of the Philippines, much appreciated by Europeans as well as the natives.
From The Medicinal Plants of the Philippines by Thomas, Jerome Beers
Next year perhaps it will be the ghost of Chico Marx with his immortal line, “Who are you gonna believe — me or your own eyes?”
From MarketWatch ● May 15, 2026
Farmington, N.M., and Chico, Calif., followed, with prices dropping 11% and 7.6%, respectively.
From Barron's ● May 5, 2026
Its nonbeer portfolio is the fastest-growing part of the business, as its Fever-Tree brand of drink mixers and Topo Chico hard seltzer are resonating with consumers, executives said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 30, 2026
“They’re well prepared to transition into that big elementary school setting,” said Sifuentes, now director of elementary education for Chico Unified School District.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2026
Ultimately, the three researchers determined that the Norte Chico held the remains of at least twenty-five cities, all of which they wanted to explore.
From "1491" by Charles C. Mann
In San Antonio the first kites jerked high in the gusty winds; tennis courts were crowded; Mexican chicos waded in the shallows of San Antonio River.
From Time Magazine Archive
“Run along, chicos, and have fun at the party. I’ll be in the kitchen serving up the best dinner you ever saw. You look wonderful, both of you, like you stepped out of a movie.”
From "The House of the Scorpion" by Nancy Farmer
The hot beans flavored with chicos and green chile were muy sabrosos.
From "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya
Corn was roasted to make chicos, blue corn was ground into meal, and the rest was stored for the animals.
From "Bless Me, Ultima" by Rudolfo Anaya
Where he dashed through the bushes and briers unharmed, my thin blues got caught and torn; but he knew what garrapatas were, and said with emphasis, "Estos chicos son muy Demonios."
From Incidents of Travel in Yucatan, Vol. II. by Stephens, John L.
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.
