Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

chisel

Syllabification: (chis·el)
Pronunciation: /ˈCHizəl/
Translate chisel | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of chisel

noun

  • a long-bladed hand tool with a beveled cutting edge and a plain handle that is struck with a hammer or mallet, used to cut or shape wood, stone, metal, or other hard materials.

verb (chisels, chiseling, chiseled ; Britishchisels, chiselling, chiselled)

[with object]
  • 1cut or shape (something) with a chisel:carefully chisel out a groove for the hinge
  • 2 informal, chiefly North American cheat or swindle (someone) out of something:he’s chiseled me out of my dues

Derivatives

chiseler

Pronunciation: /ˈCHiz(ə)lər/
noun

Origin:

late Middle English: from Old Northern French, based on Latin cis- (as in late Latin cisorium), variant of caes-, stem of caedere 'to cut'. Compare with scissors

chisel in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of chisel in the British & World English dictionary
  |  Cite
Oxford Dictionaries Pro

For Oxford's best resources for writers, plus thesaurus, audio, and 1.9m examples.

Shop for an Oxford dictionary

Find the perfect Oxford dictionary for you in our online shop.
SHOP NOW ►

Word of the day

cur

/ kəː /
noun
an aggressive or unkempt dog …