chir|rup /tʃ I rəp, [AM ] tʃɜː rəp/ (chirrups , chirruping , chirruped ) VERB If a person or bird chirrups , they make short high-pitched sounds. □ [V with quote] 'My gosh,' she chirruped. □ [V ] I woke up to the sound of larks chirruping. [Also V n]
chis|el /tʃ I z ə l/ (chisels , chiselling , chiselled ) in AM, use chiseling , chiseled 1 N‑COUNT A chisel is a tool that has a long metal blade with a sharp edge at the end. It is used for cutting and shaping wood and stone.
2 VERB If you chisel wood or stone, you cut and shape it using a chisel. □ [V n] They sit and chisel the stone to size.
chis|elled /tʃ I z ə ld/ in AM, use chiseled ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you say that someone, usually a man, has chiselled features, you mean that their face has a strong, clear bone structure. □ Women find his chiselled features irresistible. □ …a chiselled jaw.
chit /tʃ I t/ (chits ) N‑COUNT A chit is a short official note, such as a receipt, an order, or a memo, usually signed by someone in authority. [BRIT , also AM , MILITARY ] □ Schrader initialled the chit for the barman.
chi t-chat also chitchat N‑UNCOUNT Chit-chat is informal talk about things that are not very important. □ Not being a mother, I found the chit-chat exceedingly dull.
chiv|al|ric /ʃ I væ lr I k/ ADJ [ADJ n] Chivalric means relating to or connected with the system of chivalry that was believed in and followed by medieval knights. □ …chivalric ideals.
chiv|al|rous /ʃ I vəlrəs/ ADJ A chivalrous man is polite, kind, and unselfish, especially towards women. [APPROVAL ] □ He was handsome, upright and chivalrous.
chiv|al|ry /ʃ I vəlri/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Chivalry is polite, kind, and unselfish behaviour, especially by men towards women. □ Marie seemed to revel in his old-fashioned chivalry.
2 N‑UNCOUNT In the Middle Ages, chivalry was the set of rules and way of behaving which knights were expected to follow. □ …the age of chivalry.
chives /tʃa I vz/ N‑PLURAL Chives are the long thin hollow green leaves of a herb with purple flowers. Chives are cut into small pieces and added to food to give it a flavour similar to onions.
chiv|vy /tʃ I vi/ (chivvies , chivvying , chivvied ) VERB If you chivvy someone, you keep telling them to do something that they do not want to do. [BRIT ] □ [V n + into ] Jovial ladies chivvy you into ordering more than you can eat! □ [V n with adv] He chivvies the troops along with a few well-directed words. [Also V n to-inf, V n, V n prep]
chla|myd|ia /kləm I diə/ N‑UNCOUNT Chlamydia is a sexually-transmitted disease.
chlo|ride /klɔː ra I d/ (chlorides ) N‑VAR [oft n N ] Chloride is a chemical compound of chlorine and another substance. □ The scientific name for common salt is sodium chloride.
chlo|rin|at|ed /klɔː r I ne I t I d/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Chlorinated water, for example drinking water or water in a swimming pool, has been cleaned by adding chlorine to it. □ …swimming in chlorinated pools.
chlo|rine /klɔː riːn/ N‑UNCOUNT Chlorine is a strong-smelling gas that is used to clean water and to make cleaning products.
chloro|fluoro|car|bon /klɔː roʊflʊə roʊkɑː r bən/ (chlorofluorocarbons ) N‑COUNT Chlorofluorocarbons are the same as CFCs .
chlo|ro|form /klɒ rəfɔː r m, [AM ] klɔː r-/ N‑UNCOUNT Chloroform is a colourless liquid with a strong sweet smell, which makes you unconscious if you breathe its vapour.
chlo|ro|phyll /klɒ rəf I l, [AM ] klɔː r-/ N‑UNCOUNT Chlorophyll is a green substance in plants which enables them to use the energy from sunlight in order to grow.
choc-ice /tʃɒ k a I s, [AM ] tʃɔː k -/ (choc-ices ) also choc ice N‑COUNT A choc-ice is a small block of ice cream covered in chocolate. [BRIT ]
chock-a-block /tʃɒ k ə blɒ k/ ADJ [v-link ADJ ] A place that is chock-a-block is very full of people, things, or vehicles. [INFORMAL ] □ [+ with ] The small roads are chock-a-block with traffic.
chock-full /tʃɒ k fʊ l/ ADJ [v-link ADJ ] Something that is chock-full is completely full. [INFORMAL ] □ [+ of ] The 32-page catalog is chock-full of things that add fun to festive occasions.
cho|co|hol|ic /tʃɒ kəhɒ l I k, [AM ] tʃɔː kəhɔː l I k/ (chocoholics ) N‑COUNT A chocoholic is someone who eats a great deal of chocolate and finds it hard to stop themselves eating it. [INFORMAL ] □ The Confectionery Warehouse is a chocoholic's dream.
choco|late ◆◇◇ /tʃɒ kl I t, [AM ] tʃɔː k-/ (chocolates )
1 N‑VAR Chocolate is a sweet hard food made from cocoa beans. It is usually brown in colour and is eaten as a sweet. □ …a bar of chocolate. □ Do you want some chocolate? □ …rich chocolate cake.
2 → see also milk chocolate , plain chocolate
3 N‑UNCOUNT Chocolate or hot chocolate is a drink made from a powder containing chocolate. It is usually made with hot milk. □ …a small cafeteria where the visitors can buy tea, coffee and chocolate. □ I sipped the hot chocolate she had made. ● N‑COUNT A cup of chocolate can be referred to as a chocolate or a hot chocolate . □ I'll have a hot chocolate please.
4 N‑COUNT Chocolates are small sweets or nuts covered with a layer of chocolate. They are usually sold in a box. □ …a box of chocolates. □ Here, have a chocolate.