chamfer

verb cham·fer \ ˈcham(p)-fər , ˈcham-pər \

|Updated on: 27 May 2018

Definition of chamfer

chamfered; chamfering play \-f(ə-)riŋ, -p(ə-)riŋ\

transitive verb

1 : to cut a furrow in (something, such as a column) : groove

2 : to make a chamfer on : bevel

Recent Examples of chamfer from the Web

The brick nine-story cube—its corners chamfered and its windows and doorways forming a grid—stood bulky and boxy alongside the New Hampshire prep school’s neo-Georgian dorms.

— sara bliss, WSJ, "Why I Hated America’s Most Stunning Library—At First," 21 Sep. 2017
The iPhone 5, in particular, was a jewel; to me, its flat sides, chamfered edges and remarkable build quality suggested something miraculous, as if Mr. Ive had been divinely inspired in his locked white room.

— farhad manjoo, New York Times, "What’s Really Missing From the New iPhone: Cutting-Edge Design," 7 Sep. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chamfer.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of chamfer

back-formation from chamfering, alteration of Medieval French chanfreint, from past participle of chanfraindre to bevel, from chant edge (from Latin canthus iron tire) + fraindre to break, from Latin frangere — more at cant, break

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1567

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year