chub

American  

[chuhb] / tʃʌb /

noun

• chub,
  plural
• chubs
  plural

1. a common freshwater fish, Leuciscus cephalus, of European waters, having a thick, fusiform body.

2. any of various related fishes.

3. any of several unrelated American fishes, especially the tautog and whitefishes of the genus Coregonus, of the Great Lakes.

---

chub British  

/ tʃʌb /

noun

1. a common European freshwater cyprinid game fish, Leuciscus (or Squalius ) cephalus, having a cylindrical dark greenish body

2. any of various North American fishes, esp certain whitefishes and minnows

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• chub
  plural
• chubs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of chub

1400–50; late Middle English chubbe, of obscure origin

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

chub chubs

Slice the chub of salami into 1/4-inch thick circular rounds, then cut them each into 4 equal-sized chunks.

From Salon ● Feb. 7, 2026

It is normal for penguins to stack on some "healthy baby chub" after they hatch, the aquarium's Jacinta Early tells the BBC, but keepers had no idea Pesto would become so immense.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2024

The silver chub isn't considered sensitive to climate change on a national scale, but context matters.

From Science Daily ● May 17, 2024

It’s the latest tactic in an ongoing struggle to keep non-native smallmouth bass and green sunfish at bay below the Glen Canyon Dam and to protect a threatened native fish, the humpback chub.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 18, 2023

She could feel her bones and muscles just underneath all the chub, and they were big, too.

From "Eleanor & Park" by Rainbow Rowell

Among the dead fish were minnows, white suckers and creek chubs.

From Seattle Times ● May 4, 2018

Sardines, chubs, rugelach, pickles, boxes of matzo, halva sold by the block, rye bread to blow your socks off, Bloody Marys: these are the flavours which define New York for me.

From The Guardian ● Dec. 13, 2015

Backlit signs in black and white proclaim the presence of sardines, chubs, rugelach and pickles by the barrel.

From New York Times ● Jul. 29, 2014

“Pelicans primarily go after what they call ‘trash fish,’ the native fish people don’t actually go for - chubs and things like that.”

From Washington Times ● Jul. 18, 2014

On the other hand big schools of suckers and chubs are seen.

From The Lake of the Sky Lake Tahoe in the High Sierras of California and Nevada, its History, Indians, Discovery by Frémont, Legendary Lore, Various Namings, Physical Characteristics, Glacial Phenomena, Geology, Single Outlet, Automobile Routes, Historic Towns, Early Mining Excitements, Steamer Ride, Mineral Springs, Mountain and Lake Resorts, Trail and Camping Out Trips, Summer Residences, Fishing, Hunting, Flowers, Birds, Animals, Trees, and Chaparral, with a Full Account of the Tahoe National Forest, the Public Use of the Water of Lake Tahoe and Much Other Interesting Matter by George Wharton James