D
Dicread
HomeDictionaryCchicken

chicken

A domestic fowl, especially a young one, kept for its eggs or meat. / The flesh of a chicken used as food. / A person who is cowardly or afraid to do something. / To act cowardly, specifically when one fails to do something due to fear (usually used with out).

/ˈt͡ʃɪkɪn/

Transitive Verb[C/U] Both
pl: chickenspast: chickenedpp: chickeneding: chickeningcomp: more chickensup: most chicken

Countable when referring to the living farm bird running around. Uncountable when referring to the cooked meat you eat for dinner.

💬Casual Conversation

🎬Tuesday afternoon; Victoria is in a board meeting while David is hiding in his office.
Victoria

Are you actually presenting the Q3 data or are you just being a chicken?

Are you actually presenting the Q3 data or are you just being a chicken?

Victoria
David Smith
David Smith

Just pivoting my strategy to ensure maximum synergy first.

Just pivoting my strategy to ensure maximum synergy first.

Meanings

Noun

A domestic fowl, especially a young one, kept for its eggs or meat.

The farmer fed the chicken some corn.

Noun

The flesh of a chicken used as food.

We are having roast chicken for dinner tonight.

Noun

A person who is cowardly or afraid to do something.

Don't be such a chicken; just jump into the pool!

Transitive Verb
[~ to act cowardly]

To act cowardly, specifically when one fails to do something due to fear (usually used with out).

He chickened out of the bungee jump at the last second.

Etymology

Related Words

Last Updated: June 22, 2026Report an Error