DictionarychipBroken piece
noun / verb

chip

A small thin piece of solid material.

A small chip of wood falls from the board as he carves it.

Etymology

The older word names a piece of wood. English broadened it to small pieces of other solid materials, especially pieces separated from a larger object.

More examples

  • She eats a crisp potato chip.
  • The computer's main chip contains millions of tiny components.
  • He places a red chip on the gaming table.
  • He chipped a corner of the tile while cutting it.

Forms

chip · chips · chipped · chipping

Similar words

fragment
Fragment is a broken part of any shape; chip often suggests a small thin piece.