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1

chicken

play
noun chick·en \ˈchi-kən, sometimes -kəŋ\

Definition of chicken

  1. 1a :  the common domestic fowl (Gallus gallus) especially when young; also :  its flesh used as food — compare jungle fowlb :  any of various birds or their young

  2. 2 :  a young woman

  3. 3a :  cowardb :  any of various contests in which the participants risk personal safety in order to see which one will give up first

  4. 4 [short for chickenshit] slang :  petty details

  5. 5 slang :  a young male homosexual

See chicken defined for English-language learners

See chicken defined for kids

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Examples of chicken in a Sentence

  1. We had chicken for dinner.

  2. It's just a spider, you chicken!

  3. Don't be such a big chicken.

Origin and Etymology of chicken

Middle English chiken, from Old English cicen young chicken; akin to Old English cocc cock


First Known Use: before 12th century

chicken Synonyms

Synonyms
coward, craven, cur, dastard, funk, poltroon, recreant, sissy
Antonyms
hero, stalwart, valiant
Related Words
defeatist, quitter; cream puff, milquetoast, pushover, pussy [slang], weakling, wimp; caitiff, snake, sneak; ostrich, scaramouch (or scaramouche)
Near Antonyms
daredevil

Other Birds Terms

aerie, bunting, clutch, covey, hackle, ratite, rictus, ruff, skein, zygodactyl

2

chicken

adjective chick·en

Definition of chicken

  1. 1a :  scaredb :  timid, cowardly

  2. 2 slang a :  insistent on petty details of duty or disciplineb :  petty, unimportant

See chicken defined for English-language learners

Examples of chicken in a Sentence

  1. too chicken to go through with the stunt

  2. just concentrate on the important duties of the job and forget about the chicken stuff

1889

First Known Use of chicken

1889

chicken Synonyms

Synonyms
cowardly, chickenhearted, chicken-livered, craven, dastardly, gutless, lily-livered, milk-livered [archaic], poltroon, pusillanimous, recreant, spineless, unheroic, yellow
Antonyms
brave, courageous, daring, dauntless, doughty, fearless, gallant, greathearted, gutsy, hardy, heroic (also heroical), intrepid, lionhearted, stalwart, stout, stouthearted, valiant, valorous
Related Words
diffident, fainthearted, fearful, timid, timorous; afraid, frightened, scared; careful, cautious, wary; bashful, coy, shy; feeble, soft, unmanly, weak
Near Antonyms
audacious, bold, brazen, cheeky, nervy; plucky, spirited, spunky; determined, resolute
3

chicken

verb chick·en

Definition of chicken

chickened

;

chickening

play \ˈchi-kən-iŋ, ˈchik-niŋ\
  1. intransitive verb

  2. :  to lose one's nerve —usually used with out seemed to exhibit courage, manliness, and conviction when others chickened out — J. R. Seeley

See chicken defined for English-language learners

1943

First Known Use of chicken

1943

Phrases Related to CHICKEN

Related Phrases

CHICKEN Defined for English Language Learners

chicken

play
noun

Definition of chicken for English Language Learners

  • : a bird that is raised by people for its eggs and meat

  • : the meat of the chicken used as food

  • : a person who is afraid

chicken

adjective

Definition of chicken for English Language Learners

  • : too afraid to do something

CHICKEN Defined for Kids

1

chicken

play
noun chick·en \ˈchi-kən\

Definition of chicken for Students

  1. 1 :  a bird that is commonly raised by people for its eggs and meat :  a hen or rooster

  2. 2 :  the meat of a chicken used as food

  3. 3 :  coward

2

chicken

play
adjective chick·en

Definition of chicken for Students

  1. :  cowardly 1 He's too chicken to go on the rollercoaster.

Learn More about chicken

  1. Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for chicken Spanish Central: Translation of chicken Nglish: Translation of chicken for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of chicken for Arabic speakers

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