: 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
Sandra Salibian, WWD, 17 Mar. 2025
Kim rocked a mainly all-black leather look, wearing a cowboy hat with an unbuttoned shirt, western belt and blue jeans beneath a pair of chaps.
—Kayla Grant, People.com, 25 Feb. 2025
Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2025
Any moisture trapped between the bra and your skin may cause irritation and chapping on the nipples and breasts.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chap
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Noun
Must-have items: The thigh-high boots as seen at Balenciaga, Courrèges, Acne Studios, Balmain, but also at Rick Owens with chaps.
—Sandra Salibian, WWD, 17 Mar. 2025
Kim rocked a mainly all-black leather look, wearing a cowboy hat with an unbuttoned shirt, western belt and blue jeans beneath a pair of chaps.
—Kayla Grant, People.com, 25 Feb. 2025
Verb
Fingerprint authentication doesn’t always work properly, if, for example, a person’s finger is wet or chapped, or the sensor can’t detect an exact match for another reason.
—Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2025
Any moisture trapped between the bra and your skin may cause irritation and chapping on the nipples and breasts.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 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 15 Apr. 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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