chili
Syllabification: (chil·i)
Pronunciation: /ˈCHilē/
(also chili pepper or chile or British chilli)
Translate chili | into French | into Spanish Definition of chili
noun ( plural chilies or chiles or Britishchillies)
- a small hot-tasting pod of a variety of capsicum, used chopped (and often dried) in sauces, relishes, and spice powders. There are various forms with pods of differing size, color, and strength of flavor, such as cascabels and jalapeños.
- Capsicum annuum variety annuum, ‘longum’ group (or variety longum)
- short for chili powder.
- short for chili con carne.
Origin:
early 17th century: from Spanish chile, from Nahuatl chilli
Spelling help
Chili can also be spelled chilli. The plural is chilies or chiles.