chile

Chi-le · proper noun

imported

Definitions

proper noun

  1. 1.

    A country in South America, a long narrow strip along the western coast between the Andes mountains and the Pacific Ocean.

  2. 2.

    (also chili, chile pepper) An alternative spelling of chili, referring to the hot pepper.

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    Chilean — relating to Chile or its people
  • •
    Chile con carne — variant spelling of chili con carne

Related words

See also: Santiago, South America, chili

Etymology

The country's name possibly derives from the Mapuche word chilli, which may mean "where the land ends," "the deepest point of the Earth," or from Quechua chiri ("cold"). The origin remains debated.