chile

1 of 2

noun

variant spelling of chili

1

a

or chili pepper : a hot pepper of any of a group of cultivars (Capsicum annuum annuum group longum) noted for their pungency

b

chiefly British chilli : a pepper whether hot or sweet

2

a

: a thick sauce of meat and chilies

liked to cover her spaghetti with red chili

b

: chili con carne

a bowl of chili

also : a similar dish made without beef

vegetarian chili

seafood chili

chile

2 of 2

pronunciation spelling

ˈchī(-ə)l 

—used for "child" chiefly in spoken African American English especially of the southern U.S. and in written representations of such speech

… sources close to the situation have said that the "Love on the Brain" singer is remaining in Barbados while awaiting the birth of her first chile, as Newsweek also notes.

—Shanelle Genai

—often used as an affectionate or friendly way of addressing someone

"Chile, no one looks great this early in the morning," [Debbie] Allen [actress] replied with a chuckle, thanking her. …

—Tonja Renée Stidhum

The couple shared the amazing news on Instagram, and chile … that ring is everything! …

—Jasmine Grant

[Nikole] Hannah-Jones [investigative journalist] decided the best response would be to quote King accurately by reading excerpts of his speeches without mentioning explicitly that they were his words. "And, whew, chile, it was AMAZING," she said.

—David Moye

Examples of chile in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Add all chiles; cook 2 minutes or until lightly toasted and start to smell nutty, stirring constantly. —Gabriela Camara, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 May 2024

Nonalcoholic beverages included cans of Ghia’s sumac and chile spritz and Sunset Cultures’ strawberry fennel-flower kombucha. —Jean Trinh, New York Times, 2 May 2024

Chili powder and fresh serrano chiles give this dish the fire that earns this dish its name. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 Apr. 2024

Monty’s honey mustard was our second favorite, but my ultimate suggestion is to dip your fry or tot in the ghost chile sriracha followed by the honey mustard for a bite that’s hot, sweet, tangy and peppery all at once. —Danielle Dorsey, Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2024

Unlike Canary Island mojos, which rely on chiles and vinegar, Cuban mojo gets its signature tartness from bitter orange juice. —Saveur Editors, Saveur, 11 Apr. 2024

Kaleena ended up making a mushroom cheesecake and Alisha made an agua chile, fitting their theme of land and sea. —Buddha Lo, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024

This salad looks to the Southwest for flavor, fragrance and chile heat. —Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 8 Apr. 2024

So many dishes around the world begin by cooking some combination of aromatics (garlic, ginger, chiles, lemongrass) and vegetables (onions, celery, carrots) in hot fat, whether as a sofrito, a mirepoix, a recaito or a ginisa. —Julia Moskin, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Pronunciation Spelling

1839, in the meaning defined above

Geographical Definition

Chile

geographical name

Chi·​le ˈchi-lē 

ˈchē-(ˌ)lā

long, narrow country of southwestern South America between the Andes Mountains and the Pacific; a republic whose capital is Santiago and whose legislative capital is Valparaíso area 291,933 square miles (756,102 square kilometers), population 17,925,000

Chilean

ˈchi-lē-ən 

chə-ˈlā-ən

adjective or noun