chips (A2)
noun
Pronunciation: tʃɪps
Definition
Thin, deep-fried strips of potato, often eaten as a snack or with meals.
Examples
The children loved eating salty potato chips with their sandwiches.
We ordered a large portion of chips to share at the pub.
In the UK, 'chips' usually refers to thick-cut fries, while 'crisps' are thin and crunchy.
Regional English
- BrE chips (United Kingdom) context: hot fried potatoes equivalent: fries In British English, chips are hot fried potato pieces, usually thicker than American fries.
- AmE fries (United States) context: hot fried potatoes equivalent: chips Fries is the usual American word closest to British chips, though fries are often thinner.
- AmE french fries (United States) context: hot fried potatoes equivalent: chips French fries is the fuller American term closest to British chips.
- BrE crisps (United Kingdom) context: snack potatoes equivalent: potato chips Crisps are the British word for thin crunchy potato snacks.
- AmE potato chips (United States) context: snack potatoes equivalent: crisps Potato chips are the American word for British crisps.
- AmE chips (United States) context: snack potatoes equivalent: crisps In American English, chips usually means thin crunchy potato chips, not British-style hot chips.
How to Use chips
- fish and chips (collocation)
- A popular dish consisting of fried fish served with thick-cut fried potatoes. — "We went to the seaside and had fish and chips for lunch."
- potato chips (collocation)
- Thin, crispy fried slices of potato, typically eaten as a snack. — "Would you like some potato chips with your burger?"
- in chips (prepositional phrase)
- Cut or broken into small, thin pieces. — "The chocolate was broken into chips for the recipe."
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