noun
Common
chick
chihk
Chick (noun) means a young, newly hatched bird, especially a baby chicken. Example: “Every chick in the incubator had hatched by the next morning.”
noun
1
A young, newly hatched bird, especially a baby chicken.
"Every chick in the incubator had hatched by the next morning."
"The hen led her chicks across the yard."
"A fluffy yellow chick pecked at the seed on the ground."
2
(informal) A young woman.
"That chick over there is the new guitarist in our band."
"Some of the chicks in my class are starting a football team."
"He introduced her as 'the chick from accounting.'"
How to use chick
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a baby bird, or (informally, and to some ears dated) slang for a young woman.
When to use it
The "woman" sense is casual slang and can sound dated or mildly disrespectful depending on context and tone.
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Word forms
- Plural
- chicks, chicken
- Third person singular
- chicks
- Past tense
- chicked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Every _____ in the incubator had hatched by the next morning.
Etymology
From Old English ċicen, the same root that gave us "chicken"; the "young woman" sense developed in slang around the mid-1800s.
Class of 1800
chick joined the language around 1800.
See the full Class of 1800 →
Related words
Rhymes for chick
See all rhymes for chick →Frequently asked questions
What does “chick” mean?
The word “chick” means a young, newly hatched bird, especially a baby chicken. In plain terms, either a baby bird, or (informally, and to some ears dated) slang for a young woman.
How do you pronounce “chick”?
“Chick” is pronounced chihk (/t͡ʃɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “chick” in a sentence?
Here is “chick” used in a sentence: “The hen led her chicks across the yard.”
What part of speech is “chick”?
“Chick” is a noun.
Where does the word “chick” come from?
The word “chick” dates back to around 1800 and comes from Old English. From Old English ċicen, the same root that gave us "chicken"; the "young woman" sense developed in slang around the mid-1800s.
Is “chick” a common word?
“Chick” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “chick” have?
“Chick” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a young, newly hatched bird, especially a baby chicken.
Is it offensive to call a woman a chick?
Chick is informal slang for a young woman, and reactions to it vary widely. Many people find it disrespectful or dated, especially in professional settings, while others use it casually among friends; it is safest to avoid it in formal or workplace contexts.
What is the difference between a chick and a chicken?
A chicken is the bird itself at any age, while a chick is specifically a young, newly hatched bird. Chick is also used for the young of many other bird species, as in a penguin chick or an eagle chick.
What is the difference between a chick and a hen?
A chick is a newly hatched bird of either sex, while a hen is an adult female chicken. As a female chick matures she is first called a pullet — a young hen — before being counted as a hen.
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