Advertisement - Continue reading below

Definition of "chine" [chine]

  • The backbone or spine, especially of an animal. (noun)
  • A cut of meat containing part of the backbone. (noun)
  • A ridge or crest. (noun)
  • Nautical The line of intersection between the side and bottom of a flatbottom or V-bottom boat. (noun)
  • To cut (a carcass, for example) through the spine, as when butchering. (verb-transitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "chine" in a sentence
  • "The two loins together are called the chine or saddle."
  • "A chine is a deep crevace (how the hell do you spell that?) caused by running water, there are many of them along this part of the coast."
  • "When the boat is at rest, wakes from passing boats slap against the chines and makes a noise called chine gurgle."