child|care /tʃa I ldkeə r / N‑UNCOUNT Childcare refers to looking after children, and to the facilities which help parents to do so. □ Both partners shared childcare.
child|hood ◆◇◇ /tʃa I ldhʊd/ (childhoods ) N‑VAR [oft poss N , N n] A person's childhood is the period of their life when they are a child. □ She had a happy childhood. □ …childhood illnesses.
child|ish /tʃa I ld I ʃ/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Childish means relating to or typical of a child. □ …childish enthusiasm.
2 ADJ If you describe someone, especially an adult, as childish , you disapprove of them because they behave in an immature way. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …Penny's selfish and childish behaviour. □ Don't be so childish.
child|less /tʃa I ldləs/ ADJ Someone who is childless has no children. □ …childless couples.
child|like /tʃa I ldla I k/ ADJ You describe someone as childlike when they seem like a child in their character, appearance, or behaviour. □ His most enduring quality is his childlike innocence.
child|minder /tʃa I ldma I ndə r / (childminders ) N‑COUNT A childminder is someone whose job it is to look after children when the children's parents are away or are at work. Childminders usually work in their own homes. [BRIT ]
child|minding /tʃa I ldma I nd I ŋ/ also child-minding N‑UNCOUNT Childminding is looking after children when it is done by someone such as a childminder. [BRIT ]
chi ld pro di|gy (child prodigies ) N‑COUNT A child prodigy is a child with a very great talent. □ She was a child prodigy, giving concerts before she was a teenager.
child|proof /tʃa I ldpruːf/ also child proof ADJ Something that is childproof is designed in a way which ensures that children cannot harm it or be harmed by it. □ The rear doors include childproof locks.
chil|dren /tʃ I ldrən/ Children is the plural of child .
chili /tʃ I li/ (chilies or chilis ) → see chilli
chill /tʃ I l/ (chills , chilling , chilled )
1 VERB When you chill something or when it chills , you lower its temperature so that it becomes colder but does not freeze. □ [V n] Chill the fruit salad until serving time. □ [V ] These doughs can be rolled out while you wait for the pastry to chill. □ [V -ed] …a glass of chilled champagne.
2 VERB When cold weather or something cold chills a person or a place, it makes that person or that place feel very cold. □ [be V -ed] An exposed garden may be chilled by cold winds. □ [V -ed] Wade placed his chilled hands on the radiator. □ [V -ing] The boulder sheltered them from the chilling wind.
3 N‑COUNT If something sends a chill through you, it gives you a sudden feeling of fear or anxiety. □ The violence used against the students sent a chill through Indonesia. □ He smiled, an odd, dreamy smile that sent chills up my back.
4 N‑COUNT A chill is a mild illness which can give you a slight fever and headache. □ He caught a chill while performing at a rain-soaked open-air venue.
5 ADJ [ADJ n] Chill weather is cold and unpleasant. □ …chill winds, rain and choppy seas. ● N‑SING Chill is also a noun. □ [+ of ] …the cold chill of the night.
▸ chill out PHRASAL VERB To chill out means to relax after you have done something tiring or stressful. [INFORMAL ] □ [V P ] After raves, we used to chill out in each other's bedrooms.
chil|lax /tʃ I læ ks/ (chillaxes , chillaxing , chillaxed ) VERB If you chillax , you relax and stop being angry or anxious. [INFORMAL ] □ He spent the weekend chillaxing at his beach house.
chill|er /tʃ I lə r / (chillers ) N‑COUNT A chiller is a very frightening film or novel.
chil|li /tʃ I li/ (chillies or chillis ) also chili N‑VAR Chillies are small red or green peppers. They have a very hot taste and are used in cooking.
chil|li con car|ne /tʃ I li kɒn kɑː r ni/ N‑UNCOUNT Chilli con carne is a dish made from minced meat, vegetables, and powdered or fresh chillies.
chill|ing /tʃ I l I ŋ/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe something as chilling , you mean it is frightening. □ He described in chilling detail how he attacked her. ● chill|ing|ly ADV [usu ADV adj] □ The film chillingly shows the ways that the love of money alters us.
chi l|li pow|der also chili powder N‑UNCOUNT Chilli powder is a very hot-tasting powder made mainly from dried chillies. It is used in cooking.
chi ll-out ADJ [ADJ n] Chill-out places or things are intended to help you relax. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ …some summer chill-out music.
chil|ly /tʃ I li/ (chillier , chilliest )
1 ADJ Something that is chilly is unpleasantly cold. □ It was a chilly afternoon. □ The rooms had grown chilly.
2 ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If you feel chilly , you feel rather cold. □ I'm a bit chilly.
3 ADJ You say that relations between people are chilly or that a person's response is chilly when they are not friendly, welcoming, or enthusiastic. □ I was slightly afraid of their chilly distant politeness.
chime /tʃa I m/ (chimes , chiming , chimed )
1 VERB When a bell or a clock chimes , it makes ringing sounds. □ [V ] He heard the front doorbell chime. □ [V n] …as the Guildhall clock chimed three o'clock. □ [V -ing] …a mahogany chiming clock.