# chili

/ˈtʃɪɫi/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/chili
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. the spicy fruit

noun · CEFR A2 · American English

a small green or red vegetable that tastes very hot and spicy.

For teachers: the pungent fruit of various cultivated varieties of capsicum, used to add heat to culinary dishes.

- I added a chopped red chili to the sauce to give it some heat.
- The chef recommends removing the seeds from the chili if you prefer a milder flavour in the final curry.

Usage: Often used as a countable noun when referring to the whole fruit.

### 2. the spicy stew

noun · CEFR A2 · American English

a hot dish made with meat, beans, and spicy peppers.

For teachers: a spicy stew typically consisting of chili peppers, meat, and often beans and tomatoes.

- We cooked a big pot of chili for the party on Saturday night.
- Traditional Texas chili is distinguished by its focus on beef and peppers, often omitting beans entirely.

Usage: Usually uncountable when referring to the dish in general.

### 3. the powder

noun · CEFR B1 · American English

a spicy powder made from dried peppers used to flavour food.

For teachers: a seasoning composed of ground dried chili peppers, sometimes blended with other spices.

- Add a teaspoon of chili to the meat while it is browning.
- The recipe calls for a specific blend of ancho and chipotle chili to achieve a smoky depth of flavour.

## Examples

- I added a fresh red chili to the pasta sauce for extra heat.
- The chef recommends wearing gloves when chopping a fresh chili to avoid irritating your skin or eyes.
- While the recipe calls for a mild green chili, many local diners prefer the intense heat of the habanero variety, which measures much higher on the Scoville scale.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.