chilli
- Top 10000
- British English only
Sense 1
- noun
- A2
A small thin pod, usually red or green, that tastes very hot and is used to give food a strong sharp taste.
Wash your hands after cutting chillies, or your eyes will sting.
One small chilli is enough to make the whole curry hot.
He hung a string of dried red chillies beside the cooker.
I asked the waiter for a dish without any chilli.
Common collocations: red chilli · green chilli · fresh chilli · dried chilli · chilli powder · chilli flakes · chilli sauce · chop a chilli
Part of: Vegetables, Cooking
Sense 2 · less common
- noun
- B1
A thick, hot dish of minced meat, beans and spices cooked slowly in a red sauce.
There is some leftover chilli in the fridge from yesterday.
He serves his chilli with rice and a spoonful of sour cream.
A bowl of hot chilli is perfect after a cold walk.
Common collocations: a bowl of chilli · make chilli · chilli con carne · vegetarian chilli
Part of: Cooking, Restaurants, Meat and fish
Forms
- plural
- chillies