Main Entry: chili

Variant(s): also chile or chil·li \ˈchi-lē\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural chil·ies also chil·es or chilis or chil·lies

Etymology: Spanish chile, from Nahuatl chīlli

Date: 1604

1 a : a hot pepper of any of a group of cultivars (Capsicum annuum annuum group longum) noted for their pungency —called also chili pepper b usually chilli plural chillies also chil·lis chiefly British : a pepper whether hot or sweet
2 a : a thick sauce of meat and chilies b : chili con carne