[chip] n [ME; akin to OE -cippian] (14c) 1 a: a small usu. thin and flat piece (as of wood or stone) cut, struck, or flaked off b (1): a small thin slice of food; esp: potato chip (2): french fry
2: something small, worthless, or trivial 3 a: one of the counters used as a token for money in poker and other games b pl: money--used esp. in the phrase in the chips c: something valuable that can be used for advantage in negotiation or trade "a bargaining ~"
4: a piece of dried dung--usu. used in combination "cow ~"
5: a flaw left after a chip is removed
6. a: integrated circuit b: a small wafer of semiconductor material that forms the base for an integrated circuit 7: chip shot -- chip off the old block : a child that resembles his or her parent -- chip on one's shoulder : a challenging or belligerent attitude
[2]chip vb chipped ; chip.ping [ME chippen, fr. OE -cippian (as in forcippian to cut off); akin to OE cipp beam, OHG chipfa stave] vt (15c) 1 a: to cut or hew with an edged tool b (1): to cut or break (a small piece) from something (2): to cut or break a fragment from (3): to cut into chips "~ a tree stump"
2. Brit: chaff, banter
3: to hit (a return in tennis) with backspin ~ vi 1: to break off in small pieces
2: to play a chip shot