: 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
Synonyms
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
Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Oct. 2024
In Toronto, the dance centered around a superstar gay in chaps and a Rush T-shirt doing the dance perfectly.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2024
Malia Griggs, Glamour, 25 Oct. 2024
This set of two oils is designed to combat chapped and dry lips, providing a nourishing solution for a perfect pout.
—Hyphensocial Contributors, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for chap 
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Noun
Then both chaps in the room would turn to the wall and face away from the actors, which gave the actors a chance to get up out of the bed and put robes on.
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Oct. 2024
In Toronto, the dance centered around a superstar gay in chaps and a Rush T-shirt doing the dance perfectly.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 19 Oct. 2024
Verb
Some people experience extremely dry skin when gestating a human, and chapped lips can be a huge hassle.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 25 Oct. 2024
This set of two oils is designed to combat chapped and dry lips, providing a nourishing solution for a perfect pout.
—Hyphensocial Contributors, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for chap
Dictionary Entries Near chap
Cite this Entry
“Chap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chap. Accessed 18 Nov. 2024.
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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