chipping

A noun referring to the act or process of breaking off small pieces from a hard material, or the small pieces that result from such an action.

• 🇪🇸Sustantivo que designa la acción o el proceso de desprender pequeños fragmentos de un material sólido, o los propios fragmentos pequeños resultantes de esa acción.

1. Act of breaking off small pieces B2 formal

   The process or action of breaking off small fragments from a hard material, such as stone, wood, or paint.

   • The chipping of the old paint revealed the wood underneath.
   • He spent the afternoon chipping away at the stone block.
   • The constant chipping of the ice damaged the blade.

   🇪🇸Desconchado

   Sinónimos: fragmentationscalingsplintering

• chippings plural form
• chippings' possessive plural form
• chipping's possessive singular form

A verb used to indicate the act of breaking off small pieces from a hard material, or in informal contexts, to contribute money or join in a conversation.

• 🇪🇸Verbo que denota la acción de desprender pequeños fragmentos de un material duro, o en contextos informales, aportar dinero o intervenir en una conversación.

1. Break off a small piece B1 formal

   To break off a small piece from a hard object, often accidentally.

   • He chipped the edge of the plate when he dropped it.
   • The stone chipped the windshield of the car.
   • Be careful not to chip the paint on the wall.

   🇪🇸Desportillar

   Sinónimos: break offcrackflakeknock offnicknotch

2. Cut or shape by chipping B2 formal

   To cut or shape something by breaking off small pieces, often in woodworking or stone carving.

   • The sculptor chipped away at the marble block for weeks.
   • He chipped the wood to create a rough shape.
   • They chipped the stone into a perfect square.

   🇪🇸desbastar o tallar a golpes

   Sinónimos: carvechiselhewknapwhittle

3. Contribute money or effort B1 informal

   To contribute a small amount of money or effort to a common cause.

   • Everyone chipped in to buy a birthday gift for the boss.
   • We all chipped in to cover the cost of the party.
   • She chipped in with some helpful suggestions during the meeting.

   🇪🇸Aportar (dinero o esfuerzo)

   Sinónimos: ante upcontributecough updonatehelp outkick inpitch inshell out

   Antónimos: keepwithhold

• chipped past participle
• chipped past simple
• chipping present participle
• chips third person singular

Variantes phrasal: chip atchip awaychip away atchip inchip off