chili

chi-li · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A small hot-tasting pod of a variety of capsicum, used chopped or dried as a spice or flavoring.

  2. 2.

    (also chili con carne) A spicy stew made with meat, beans, tomatoes, and chili peppers.

  3. 3.

    Chili powder; a spice made from dried ground chilies.

Forms

plural: chilies or chilis

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    chili con carne — a spicy stew of meat and beans (Spanish: "chili with meat")
  • •
    chili powder — ground dried chilies, often mixed with other spices
  • •
    chili pepper — the fruit of plants from the genus Capsicum
  • •
    chili oil — oil infused with hot chilies

Related words

See also: hot, jalapeño, pepper, spice
Synonyms: chile, chili pepper, chilli (British), hot pepper

Etymology

From Nahuatl chīlli via Spanish chile. The word entered English in the 17th century. Variant spellings include chile (American Southwest, Latin America) and chilli (British).