champ

• POS: Noun, Verb (usu participle)

CIDE DICTIONARY

champ, v. t. [Prob, of Scand. orgin; cf. dial. Sw. kämsa to chew with difficulty, champ; but cf. also OF. champier, champeyer, champoyer, to graze in fields, fr. F. champ field, fr. L. campus. Cf. Camp.].

•  To bite with repeated action of the teeth so as to be heard.  [1913 Webster]

  "Foamed and champed the golden bit."  [1913 Webster]
•  To bite into small pieces; to crunch.  Steele.  [1913 Webster]

champ, v. i. 

 To bite or chew impatiently.  [1913 Webster]
"They began . . . irefully to champ upon the bit."  [1913 Webster]

champ, n. [F. champ, L. campus field.].

 The field or ground on which carving appears in relief.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

champ, v. & n.
--v.
1 tr. & intr. munch or chew noisily.
2 tr. (of a horse etc.) work (the bit) noisily between the teeth.
3 intr. fret with impatience (is champing to be away).
--n. a chewing noise or motion.

Idiom

champ at the bit be restlessly impatient.

champ, n. sl. a champion.

Etymology

abbr.

THESAURUS

champ

Olympic medal winner, award winner, bite, bolus, champion, chaw, chew, chew the cud, chew up, chomp, conquering hero, conqueror, conquistador, crunch, crush, cud, defeater, easy winner, gnash, gnaw, gob, grind, gum, hero, laureate, macerate, mash, master, masticate, medalist, morsel, mouth, mouthful, mumble, munch, nibble, nip, pancratiast, peck, pick, prizeman, prizetaker, prizewinner, quid, ruminate, runner-up, scrunch, shoo-in, smash, snap, subduer, subjugator, sure winner, swallow, top dog, triumpher, vanquisher, victor, winner, world champion, world-record holder

ROGET THESAURUS

champ

Food

VB eat, feed, fare, devour, swallow, take, gulp, bolt, snap, fall to, despatch, dispatch, discuss, take down, get down, gulp down, lay in, tuck in, lick, pick, peck, gormandize, bite, champ, munch, cranch, craunch, crunch, chew, masticate, nibble, gnaw, mumble, live on, feed upon, batten upon, fatten upon, feast upon, browse, graze, crop, regale, carouse, eat heartily, do justice to, play a good knife and fork, banquet, break bread, break one's fast, breakfast, lunch, dine, take tea, sup, drink in, drink up, drink one's fill, quaff, sip, sup, suck, suck up, lap, swig, swill, chugalug, tipple, empty one's glass, drain the cup, toss off, toss one's glass, wash down, crack a bottle, wet one's whistle, purvey.