Meaning & use
Chine
Last updated
The backbone or spine of an animal, or a cut of meat that includes part of the backbone.
See it in a sentence
The butcher trimmed the chine from the side of beef before dividing it into roasts.
The steep, wooded chine near the coast made a popular walking route for tourists.
A note on using this word
In southern England, 'chine' also names a steep, narrow ravine cut into coastal cliffs by a stream, as seen along the Isle of Wight and Dorset coasts.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. noun
(British) A steep, narrow ravine or gorge where a stream cuts through coastal cliffs to the sea.
They hiked down the chine to reach the secluded beach below.
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