chicken
CHIH-kihn
Chicken (noun) means a common domesticated bird raised for its eggs and meat. Example: “They keep six chickens in a coop behind the house.”
noun
1
A common domesticated bird raised for its eggs and meat.
"They keep six chickens in a coop behind the house."
"The chickens ran across the farmyard as soon as they heard the bucket."
"A chicken pecked at the grain scattered on the ground."
2
The meat of this bird, eaten as food.
"We grilled chicken and vegetables for dinner."
"The soup was made with chicken stock and fresh herbs."
"I would like a chicken sandwich with salad, please."
3
(informal) A cowardly person.
"Don't be such a chicken — just ask her to dance!"
"Everyone called him a chicken when he wouldn't jump off the high diving board."
"I'm a bit of a chicken when it comes to horror films."
adj
1
(informal) Cowardly; afraid to do something.
"He felt chicken about confronting his boss."
"Are you too chicken to try the big rollercoaster?"
"Stop being chicken and tell her how you really feel."
verb
1
(informal, usually with "out") To back out of something through fear.
"She chickened out of the bungee jump at the last second."
"Don't chicken out now; you've practised your speech all week!"
"He planned to ask for a raise but chickened out at the door."
How to use chicken
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe everyday farmyard bird and its meat, plus an informal sense meaning "coward" or "to lose your nerve."
Common mistake
As a verb, it's almost always used with "out" — "chicken out," not just "chicken."
Common pairings
chicken out
roast chicken
chicken and rice
don't be a chicken
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Word forms
- Plural
- chickens
- Third person singular
- chickens
- Past tense
- chickened
- Comparative
- more chicken
- Superlative
- most chicken
Fill the gap
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They keep six _____ in a coop behind the house.
Etymology
From Old English ċicen, of uncertain deeper origin, possibly related to "cock." The "coward" meaning is a much later figurative extension.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for chicken
See all rhymes for chicken →Frequently asked questions
What does “chicken” mean?
The word “chicken” means a common domesticated bird raised for its eggs and meat. In plain terms, the everyday farmyard bird and its meat, plus an informal sense meaning "coward" or "to lose your nerve.".
How do you pronounce “chicken”?
“Chicken” is pronounced CHIH-kihn (/ˈt͡ʃɪkɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “chicken” in a sentence?
Here is “chicken” used in a sentence: “They keep six chickens in a coop behind the house.”
What is another word for “chicken”?
Words with a similar meaning to “chicken” include biddy and chook.
What part of speech is “chicken”?
Depending on how it is used, “chicken” can be a noun, an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “chicken” come from?
The word “chicken” comes from Old English. From Old English ċicen, of uncertain deeper origin, possibly related to "cock." The "coward" meaning is a much later figurative extension.
Is “chicken” a common word?
“Chicken” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “chicken” have?
“Chicken” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a common domesticated bird raised for its eggs and meat.
What is the difference between a chicken and a hen?
Chicken is the general word for the species and for its meat. A hen is specifically an adult female chicken, the one that lays eggs. An adult male is a rooster or cockerel, and a baby is a chick. So every hen is a chicken, but not every chicken is a hen.
What is the difference between a chicken and a rooster?
A rooster is an adult male chicken, known for its comb, colourful feathers, and crowing at dawn. A hen is the female. 'Chicken' covers both sexes and all ages. Only hens lay eggs, while roosters are kept mainly for breeding and for guarding the flock.
What is a group of chickens called?
A group of chickens is called a flock. A hen together with her chicks is known as a brood, and the word brood also describes the chicks hatched at the same time. Farmers keep flocks for eggs, meat, or both, from a few backyard birds to thousands.
Is a chicken a bird?
Yes. A chicken is a domesticated bird, with feathers, wings, a beak, and the ability to lay eggs — all the traits that define birds. Although chickens can flap and glide short distances, they are poor fliers, having been bred over thousands of years mainly for eggs and meat.
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