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.
Hola, chico: The documentary “The Boy from Medellín” gets up close and personal with Latin music superstar J Balvin.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 30, 2021
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
To satisfy their needs the genero chico, or little style, sprang into existence; and quickly every theatre in Spain was given over to the system of four houses a night.
From The Land of The Blessed Virgin; Sketches and Impressions in Andalusia by Maugham, W. Somerset (William Somerset)
Whether single or double or in the lead of the team, Over highways or byways or crossing a stream,— You're always in fix and willing to go, Whenever you're called on, my chico Chopo.
From Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads by Various
I love topping it with Topo Chico for the soda’s minerality and extra fizziness.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
As officers entered the building, “the suspect fled out the back of the library, where Chico police officers had already set a perimeter and were able to take him into custody shortly thereafter,” Aldridge said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 23, 2026
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
Then she leashed Fred and Chico and escorted them out of the kennels.
From "Dog Squad" by Chris Grabenstein
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.
