noun
chap
chap
noun
1
Informal British term for a man or fellow.
"He seems like a nice chap."
"Some poor chap lost his wallet on the train."
verb
1
Of skin, to crack or become rough and sore, usually from cold or dry weather.
"Her lips chapped badly in the winter wind."
How to Use Chap
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA casual British word for "guy" or "bloke", or, as a verb, for skin cracking in the cold.
When to use it
The "fellow" sense is informal and mainly British.
Common pairings
a good chap
chapped lips
chapped skin
Word Forms
chapped past tense, chaps plural, chaps plural, chaps plural, Chaps plural, chaps singular
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He seems like a nice _____.
Etymology
Shortened from chapman, an old word for a travelling trader or dealer.