/ ˈtʃæptə(r); NAmE / noun
1.
( abbr. chap. ) [ C ] a separate section of a book, usually with a number or title :
I've just finished Chapter 3.
in the previous / next / last chapter
Have you read the chapter on the legal system?
2.
[ C ] a period of time in a person's life or in history :
a difficult chapter in our country's history
3.
[ C +sing./pl. v . ] all the priests of a cathedral or members of a religious community :
a meeting of the dean and chapter
4.
[ C ] ( especially NAmE ) a local branch of a society, club, etc. :
the local chapter of the Rotary club
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IDIOMS
- chapter and verse
- a chapter of accidents
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French chapitre , from Latin capitulum , diminutive of caput head.