: a crack in or a sore roughening of the skin caused by exposure to wind or cold
chapped; chapping
: to open in cracks, slits, or chinks
also
: to become cracked, roughened, or reddened especially by the action of wind or cold
hands often chap in winter
: to cause to chap
wind-chapped lips
1
: the fleshy covering of a jaw
2
: the forepart of the face
—usually used in plural
1
chiefly British
: fellow sense 4c
Examples of chap in a Sentence
Noun (3)
a couple of chaps kindly gave us directions to Buckingham Palace
a cute little chap
Recent Examples on the Web
Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
The collection is known for embracing motorcycle culture and Western fashion, featuring fringe skirts, cowhide power suits and leather chaps.
—Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 21 Apr. 2025
Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 12 Mar. 2025
Offering long-lasting moisture, this innovative ointment instantly helps relief the chapped or cracked skin while delivering a soothing healing effect to boost your skin's moisture barrier overnight.
—Denise Primbet, Glamour, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chap
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Noun
The answer is, just an eccentric chap who needed something to do with his hands.
—Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle, Forbes.com, 7 May 2025
The collection is known for embracing motorcycle culture and Western fashion, featuring fringe skirts, cowhide power suits and leather chaps.
—Renan Botelho, Footwear News, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
These help prevent moisture loss and relieve dry or chapped lips.
—Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 12 Mar. 2025
Offering long-lasting moisture, this innovative ointment instantly helps relief the chapped or cracked skin while delivering a soothing healing effect to boost your skin's moisture barrier overnight.
—Denise Primbet, Glamour, 5 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chap
Cite this Entry
“Chap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chap. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
chap
1 of 3 noun
: a crack or a sore roughening of the skin from exposure especially to wind or cold
chap
2 of 3 verb
chapped; chapping
: to open in slits or cracks
also
: to become cracked, roughened, or reddened
chapped lips
chap
3 of 3 noun
chiefly British
Etymology
Noun
Middle English chappes "cracks in skin," from chappen "to crack"
Verb
Middle English chappen "to crack (of skin)"
Noun
shortened form of chapman "merchant," from Old English cēapman "merchant," from cēap "trade" and man "man" — related to cheap
Medical Definition
chap
1 of 2 verb
chapped; chapping
: to crack or open in slits
the hands and lips often chap in winter
: to cause to open in slits or cracks
chapped lips
chap
2 of 2 noun
: a crack in or a sore roughening of the skin caused by exposure to wind or cold
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