<B>chapter, </B>noun, verb.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a main division of a book or other writing, usually numbered, dealing with a certain part of the story or subject. <BR> <I>Ex. That book is dull until the hero enters in the third chapter. The first chapters of the Biblical book of Genesis tell about the creation of the world.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) anything like a chapter; part; section. <BR> <I>Ex. The development of radio is an interesting chapter in modern science.</I> <DD><B> 3. </B>a local division of an organization, which holds its own meetings; branch of a club, fraternity, society, or the like. <DD><B> 4. </B>(Ecclesiastical.) <DD><B> a. </B>a regular meeting of the canons of a collegiate or cathedral church, presided over by a dean. <DD><B> b. </B>the members of such an assembly collectively. <BR> <I>Ex. The dean and chapter are ... the nominal electors of a bishop (William Blackstone).</I> <DD><B> c. </B>a general meeting or assembly of the members of a religious or other order. <DD><B> 5. </B>(Roman Catholic Church.) a Biblical passage read as a lesson following the psalms at the canonical hours, at complin, when it follows the hymn, and at matins. <DD><B> 6. </B>(British.) a division of the statute book corresponding to one Act of Parliament, cited with the regnal year. <BR> <I>Ex. the fifth Anne, chapter two.</I> <DD> (Abbr:) ch., chap. <DD><I>v.t. </I> to divide (a book or other written matter) into chapters; arrange in chapters. <BR> <I>Ex. The Bible was chaptered by Cardinal Langton.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="chapterandverse">
<B>chapter and verse,</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the exact reference to a passage of Scripture. <DD><B> 2. </B>(Figurative.) exact authority (for). <DD><B> 3. </B>(Figurative.) precise information and full detail. </DL>
<A NAME="chapterhouse">
<B>chapter house,</B><DL COMPACT><DD><B> 1. </B>the building or rooms where the chapter of a cathedral or monastery holds its meetings. <BR> <I>Ex. The monks transact business in their chapter house.</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>(U.S. and Canada.) the house of a college fraternity or sorority. </DL>
<A NAME="chapterofaccidents">
<B>chapter of accidents,</B><DL COMPACT><DD> the unforeseen course of events; a series of unexpected developments. </DL>
<A NAME="chaqueta">
<B>chaqueta, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> a jacket, especially a heavy one of leather or fabric; worn by cowboys. </DL>
<A NAME="char">
<B>char</B> (1), verb, <B>charred,</B> <B>charring,</B> noun.<DL COMPACT><DD><I>v.t. </I> <B>1. </B>to burn to charcoal or carbon. <DD><B> 2. </B>to burn enough to blacken; scorch. <BR> <I>Ex. After the fire a carpenter replaced the charred floor.</I> <DD><I>v.i. </I> to become burned to charcoal or carbon. <DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a charred substance. <DD><B> 2. </B>charcoal; bone-black. </DL>
<A NAME="char">
<B>char</B> (2), noun, verb, <B>charred,</B> <B>charring.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (Especially British.) <DD><I>noun </I> <B>1. </B>a charwoman. <DD><B> 2. </B>an odd job, especially of housework; chore. <DD><I>v.i. </I> <B>1. </B>to do housework by the day or hour. <DD><B> 2. </B>to do odd jobs; chare. <DD><I>v.t. </I> to do (odd jobs). </DL>
<A NAME="char">
<B>char</B> (3), noun, pl. <B>chars</B> or (collectively) <B>char.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> any one of a group of trout with small scales, including the brook or speckled trout, the lake trout, and the common char of Europe. Also, <B>charr.</B> </DL>
<A NAME="char">
<B>char</B> (4), noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (Slang, originally Cockney.) tea. </DL>
<A NAME="chara">
<B>chara</B> (1), noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> (British Slang.) charabanc. <BR> <I>Ex. You can get there in no time, in a bus or a chara (Manchester Guardian Weekly).</I> </DL>
<A NAME="chara">
<B>chara</B> (2), noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> any one of a group of submerged; freshwater algae that root in muddy or sandy bottoms by means of rhizoids. </DL>
<A NAME="charabanc">
<B>charabanc</B> or <B>char-a-banc, </B>noun, pl. <B>-bancs.</B><DL COMPACT><DD> (British.) <DD><B> 1. </B>a large motorbus used for excursions, having several rows of benches facing forward. <BR> <I>Ex. Apart from a few luxurious tourist charabancs, the buses tend to be battered (Harper's).</I> <DD><B> 2. </B>a large open vehicle drawn by horses, formerly used. </DL>
<A NAME="characid">
<B>characid, </B>adjective.<DL COMPACT><DD> of or having to do with characins. <BR> <I>Ex. Piranhas belong to the characid fishes.</I> </DL>
<A NAME="characin">
<B>characin, </B>noun.<DL COMPACT><DD> any one of a family of voracious, strong-jawed fishes of Africa or South America. <BR> <I>Ex. Some tropical fish that bear their youngin eggs are the ... characins and cichlids (C. L. Hubbs).</I> </DL>
