chipping: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral to technical, depending on context. Common in DIY, sports, and industrial settings.
Quick answer
What does “chipping” mean?
The act or process of breaking small pieces off a hard material, or the small pieces produced by this action.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act or process of breaking small pieces off a hard material, or the small pieces produced by this action.
A technique in various crafts (woodworking, masonry) and sports (golf, football); also refers to fragments, especially of stone or road surface.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage largely identical. 'Chippings' (plural) is common in UK for loose stone fragments (e.g., gravel). In sports, 'chip shot' is universal.
Connotations
UK: Strong association with road repair ('road chippings') and fish & chip shops ('chipper'). US: More neutral, industrial/craft focus.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK English due to 'road chippings' and colloquial uses.
Grammar
How to Use “chipping” in a Sentence
[chipping] + [off/away/at] + [object][object] + [needs/requires] + [chipping][verb] + [the] + [chipping]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “chipping” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He's carefully chipping the old mortar from between the bricks.
- The golfer is chipping onto the green.
American English
- She's chipping away at the ice on the windshield.
- The sculptor chipped the marble into shape.
adverb
British English
- He worked chipping away at the stone.
- (Rarely used as a pure adverb)
American English
- She carved the design chipping carefully.
- (Rarely used as a pure adverb)
adjective
British English
- We need a chipping hammer for this job.
- The chipping wind made it feel colder.
American English
- Wear safety glasses for chipping work.
- The road has a chipping surface.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In construction or landscaping, refers to material costs or waste (e.g., 'disposal of stone chippings').
Academic
In archaeology or materials science, describes tool-making techniques or degradation processes.
Everyday
Used for home maintenance (paint chipping off a wall) or sports (a nice chipping shot in golf).
Technical
Precise removal of material in machining, masonry, or dentistry.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “chipping”
- Using 'chipping' for 'chopping' (larger cuts). Confusing 'chipping' (process) with 'chip' (result). Incorrect: 'The chipping of the tree.' (Use 'chopping').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While it can describe unwanted damage (paint chipping), it also denotes a controlled, skilled action in sports, crafts, or sculpture.
'A chip' is usually the small piece that breaks off (the result). 'Chipping' is the process or action of causing chips to come off, or can be a mass noun for many fragments.
Not typically for the action. 'Chip' refers to the microchip. 'Chipping' might be slang for modifying hardware, but 'chipping away at data' is a metaphorical use.
It means making slow, persistent progress on a large or difficult task. E.g., 'She's chipping away at her student loan by making extra payments.'
The act or process of breaking small pieces off a hard material, or the small pieces produced by this action.
Chipping is usually neutral to technical, depending on context. common in diy, sports, and industrial settings. in register.
Chipping: in British English it is pronounced /ˈtʃɪp.ɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈtʃɪp.ɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Chipping away at the problem”
- “A chip off the old block (related)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CHIPmunk with a tiny hammer, CHIPPING off pieces of a nut.
Conceptual Metaphor
PROGRESS IS CHIPPING AWAY AT A SOLID BLOCK (e.g., chipping away at debt, at a task).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'chipping' LEAST likely to be used?