chili
chili Lexical Profile
chili Game Scores & Validity
• noun
The small, pungent pod of a pepper plant of the genus Capsicum, used either fresh or dried to add spicy heat to food.
"She chopped a fresh green chili to give the salsa an extra kick of heat."
North American A thick, spicy stew typically made with ground meat, chili peppers or chili powder, and often beans and tomatoes.
"We served hot bowls of chili topped with shredded cheese and sour cream during the football game."
Word Nuance & Usage
Spelling varies regionally: 'chili' is standard in the US, 'chilli' is common in British and Commonwealth English, and 'chile' is frequently used in the American Southwest and Latin American contexts. It should not be confused with the South American country, Chile.
• Rhymes for chili
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Nahuatl word 'chīlli', referring to the hot pepper plant. It was adapted into Spanish as 'chile' before entering English in the 17th century.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.