Chinook

UK: 'Chinook', 'chinook': /tʃɪˈnuːk/

US: (shi nŏŏk′, -no̅o̅k′, chi-)

Inflections of 'Chinook' (n):

Chinooks

npl (All usages)

Chinook

npl (Can be used as a collective plural for the Native American people—e.g. "These lands were once entirely inhabited by Chinook.")

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

Chi•nook  (shi nŏŏk′, -no̅o̅k′, chi-), n., pl. -nooks, (esp. collectively) -nook. 

1. Language Varieties a member of a formerly numerous North American Indian people originally inhabiting the northern shore of the mouth of the Columbia River and the adjacent territory.
2. Language Varieties either of the two languages of the Chinook Indians. Cf. Lower Chinook, Upper Chinook.
3. Meteorology (l.c.) a warm, dry wind that blows at intervals down the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains.
4. Fish (l.c.) See chinook salmon. 
5. Military a U.S. Army cargo helicopter in service since 1962 and capable of ferrying 12 tons of supplies and troops.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

Chinook / tʃɪˈnuːk -ˈnʊk/ noun

1. ( -nook, -nooks) a Native American people of the Pacific coast near the Columbia River
2. the language of this people, probably forming a separate branch of the Penutian phylum

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

chinook / tʃɪˈnuːk -ˈnʊk/ noun

1. Also called: snow eater a warm dry southwesterly wind blowing down the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains
2. Also called: wet chinook a warm moist wind blowing onto the Washington and Oregon coasts from the sea

Etymology: 19th Century: from Salish c'inuk