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

Dried Chiles Dried chiles—particularly ancho, guajillo, and arbol—are vital to adding the signature Mexican flavor. —Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Oct. 2024

Be careful not to burn as that will turn the chiles bitter. —Lynn Forbes, The Mercury News, 4 Oct. 2024

The dish was based on Salinas' personal recipe, featuring a generous portion of fish bathed in a spicy sauce peppered with capers and jalapeño chiles topped with crispy ribbons of tortilla strips. —Paul Stephen, San Antonio Express-News, 2 Oct. 2024

The German company cleverly blends ingredients like tropical fruits, berries, and fresh ginger with red hot chiles to create sauces that are delicious, balanced, and more than capable of making my ears sweat. —Li Goldstein, Bon Appétit, 19 Sep. 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