■ noun
1》 a small, thin piece removed in the course of chopping, cutting, or breaking a hard material.
↘a blemish left by the removal of a ~.
↘ Brit. wood or woody fibre split into thin strips and used for weaving hats or baskets.
2》 Brit. a long rectangular piece of deep-fried potato.
↘(also potato ~ ) N. Amer. a potato crisp.
3》 short for micro~ .
4》 a counter used in certain gambling games to represent money.
5》 (in soccer or golf) a short lofted kick or shot.
■ verb ( ~s , ~ping , ~ped )
1》 cut or break (a ~) from a hard material.
↘(of a hard material or object) break at the edge or on the surface.
2》 ( ~ away at ) gradually and relentlessly make (something) smaller or weaker: rivals may ~ away at one's profits.
3》 ( ~ in ) contribute one's share of a joint activity.
↘ informal make an interjection.
4》 [usu. as adjective ~ped ] Brit. cut (a potato) into ~s.
5》 (in soccer or golf) strike (the ball) to produce a short lofted shot or pass.
Phrases
a ~ off the old block informal someone who resembles their parent in character.
a ~ on one's shoulder informal a deeply ingrained grievance.
have had one's ~s Brit. informal be dead or out of contention.
when the ~s are down informal when a very serious situation arises.
Origin
ME: related to OE forcippian 'cut off'.