chile

1 of 2

noun

variant spelling of chili

1
a
or chili pepper : a hot pepper of any of a group of cultivars (Capsicum annuum annuum group longum) noted for their pungency
b
chiefly British chilli : a pepper whether hot or sweet
2
a
: a thick sauce of meat and chilies
liked to cover her spaghetti with red chili
b
: chili con carne
a bowl of chili
also : a similar dish made without beef
vegetarian chili
seafood chili

chile

2 of 2

pronunciation spelling

used for "child" chiefly in spoken African American English especially of the southern U.S. and in written representations of such speech
… sources close to the situation have said that the "Love on the Brain" singer is remaining in Barbados while awaiting the birth of her first chile, as Newsweek also notes.Shanelle Genai
often used as an affectionate or friendly way of addressing someone
"Chile, no one looks great this early in the morning," [Debbie] Allen [actress] replied with a chuckle, thanking her. …Tonja Renée Stidhum
The couple shared the amazing news on Instagram, and chile … that ring is everything! …Jasmine Grant
[Nikole] Hannah-Jones [investigative journalist] decided the best response would be to quote King accurately by reading excerpts of his speeches without mentioning explicitly that they were his words. "And, whew, chile, it was AMAZING," she said.David Moye

Examples of chile in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
At 27 Tapas, the hotel’s open-air rooftop bar, try Ceviche 27 (made with the catch of the day, smoked almonds, apple and yellow chiles) or Caper Ceviche (with avocado, corn fritters and its catch-of-the-day leche de tigre supplemented with capers). Johanna Read, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 Sprinkle the corn, beans, chiles and salsa over the rice; do not stir them in. Nancy Baggett, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 Paprika, both hot and smoked, and urfa biber chiles combine with rich garlic oil for a toasty, crunchy, and deeply earthy flavor. Ellen Fort, Saveur, 21 Feb. 2024 Use it to grind spices, chiles, nuts and seeds, but also to prepare salsas and guacamole. Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Feb. 2024 Roast colorful carrots with orange slices, chiles, olive oil, and maple syrup. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Feb. 2024 Stir together lettuce, corn, tomato, scallion, cilantro, chile, lime juice and salt in a medium bowl; set aside. Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 13 Feb. 2024 Fresh chiles replace the familiar can of Ro-Tel diced tomatoes, and cilantro and sour cream add freshness and body. Matt Brooks, Washington Post, 6 Feb. 2024 Ladle into bowls and garnish with chiles and additional cilantro. Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 29 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'chile.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Pronunciation Spelling

1839, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chile was in 1839

Dictionary Entries Near chile

Cite this Entry

“Chile.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chile. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Geographical Definition

Chile

geographical name

Chi·​le ˈchi-lē How to pronounce Chile (audio)
ˈchē-(ˌ)lā
long, narrow country of southwestern South America between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific; a republic whose capital is Santiago and whose legislative capital is Valparaíso area 291,933 square miles (756,102 square kilometers), population 17,925,000
Chilean
ˈchi-lē-ən How to pronounce Chile (audio)
chə-ˈlā-ən
adjective or noun

More from Merriam-Webster on chile

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