noun

chipmunk

CHIHP-muhngk

Chipmunk (noun) means a small striped rodent found mostly in North America. Example: “A chipmunk darted across the trail and up a tree.”

noun

A small striped rodent found mostly in North America.

"A chipmunk darted across the trail and up a tree."

verb

To speed up a recording so voices sound high-pitched.

"The producer chipmunked the vocal for a comic effect."

How to use chipmunk

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small, striped, tree-climbing rodent — also a verb for making a voice recording sound squeaky and sped-up.

Common pairings

chipmunk cheeks

Word forms

chipmunked past tense, chipmunks plural, chipmunks singular

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Can you complete this real example?

A _____ darted across the trail and up a tree.

Etymology

Originally chitmunk, from an Ojibwe word meaning roughly "those who descend headlong", later reshaped by influence from "chip".

Frequently asked questions

What does “chipmunk” mean?

The word “chipmunk” means a small striped rodent found mostly in North America. In plain terms, a small, striped, tree-climbing rodent — also a verb for making a voice recording sound squeaky and sped-up.

How do you pronounce “chipmunk”?

“Chipmunk” is pronounced CHIHP-muhngk (/ˈt͡ʃɪp.mʌŋk/ in IPA).

How do you use “chipmunk” in a sentence?

Here is “chipmunk” used in a sentence: “A chipmunk darted across the trail and up a tree.”

What part of speech is “chipmunk”?

Depending on how it is used, “chipmunk” can be a noun and a verb.

How many meanings does “chipmunk” have?

“Chipmunk” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small striped rodent found mostly in North America.