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 busually chilli plural chillies also chil·lis chiefly British : a pepper whether hot or sweet2 a: a thick sauce of meat and chilies b: chili con carne