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chop

1
[ chop ]
/ tʃɒp /
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See synonyms for: chop / chopped / chops on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), chopped, chop·ping.
verb (used without object), chopped, chop·ping.
noun
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True or false? British English and American English are only different when it comes to slang words.

Idioms about chop

    chop / cut down to size. cut (def. 89).

Origin of chop

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English choppen; variant of chap1

synonym study for chop

1. See cut.

Other definitions for chop (2 of 4)

chop2
[ chop ]
/ tʃɒp /

verb (used without object), chopped, chop·ping.
to turn, shift, or change suddenly: The wind chopped to the west.
to vacillate; change one's mind.
Obsolete.
  1. to barter.
  2. to bandy words; argue.

Origin of chop

2
First recorded in 1425–75; variant of obsolete chap “barter,” Middle English chappen (with vowel as in chapman), chepen, Old English cēapian “to trade” (derivative of cēap “sale, trade”; see cheap)

Other definitions for chop (3 of 4)

chop3
[ chop ]
/ tʃɒp /

noun
Usually chops .Also chap.
  1. the jaw.
  2. the lower part of the cheek; the flesh over the lower jaw.
chops,
  1. the oral cavity; mouth.
  2. Slang. the embouchure or technique necessary to play a wind instrument.
  3. Slang. musical ability or virtuosity on any instrument, especially in playing jazz or rock.
  4. Slang. the music or musical part played by an instrumentalist, especially a solo passage.
  5. Slang. ability, talent, or skill, as in an occupation or activity: He began auditioning for roles in which he would get the chance to prove his acting chops.
an entranceway, as into a body of water.
Horology. either of two pieces clasping the end of the suspension spring of a pendulum.

Origin of chop

3
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; perhaps special use of chop1

Other definitions for chop (4 of 4)

chop4
[ chop ]
/ tʃɒp /

noun
an official stamp or seal, or a permit or clearance, especially as formerly used in India and China.
a design, corresponding to a brand or trademark, stamped on goods to indicate their identity or quality.
the signature stamp of an artist, printmaker, etc., testifying to the authenticity of a work.
quality, class, or grade: a musician of the first chop.

Origin of chop

4
First recorded in 1605–15, chop is from the Hindi word chāp “impression, stamp”
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use chop in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for chop (1 of 3)

chop1
/ (tʃɒp) /

verb chops, chopping or chopped
noun

Word Origin for chop

C16: variant of chap 1

British Dictionary definitions for chop (2 of 3)

chop2
/ (tʃɒp) /

verb chops, chopping or chopped
(intr) to change direction suddenly; vacillate (esp in the phrase chop and change)
obsolete to barter
chop logic to use excessively subtle or involved logic or argument

Word Origin for chop

Old English ceapian to barter; see cheap, chapman

British Dictionary definitions for chop (3 of 3)

chop3
/ (tʃɒp) /

noun
a design stamped on goods as a trademark, esp in the Far East

Word Origin for chop

C17: from Hindi chhāp
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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