: 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
Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
Working double duty as stars and creators, Hadel voices Charlie, a bro-ish yellow blob creature, and Cusack voices Pim, a well-mannered chap who looks like a cross between a school boy and a grape.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 20 Oct. 2025
Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 25 Oct. 2025
With customizable wash modes, this machine quietly and efficiently handles all the work of cleaning grimy bottles without soaking, scrubbing, or chapped hands.
—Nicole Kinning, Wired News, 16 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for chap
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Noun
Later used between men to indicate a good chap.
—Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2025
Working double duty as stars and creators, Hadel voices Charlie, a bro-ish yellow blob creature, and Cusack voices Pim, a well-mannered chap who looks like a cross between a school boy and a grape.
—Jack Dunn, Variety, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
This rich yet silky balm delivers up to 24 hours of moisture, instantly quenching dry, chapped lips and locking it in for lasting softness.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 25 Oct. 2025
With customizable wash modes, this machine quietly and efficiently handles all the work of cleaning grimy bottles without soaking, scrubbing, or chapped hands.
—Nicole Kinning, Wired News, 16 Oct. 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 4 Nov. 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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