chop

[chop]

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verb (used with object), chopped, chop·ping.

to cut or sever with a quick, heavy blow or a series of blows, using an ax, hatchet, etc. (often followed by down, off, etc.): to chop down a tree.

to make or prepare for use by so cutting: to chop logs.

to cut in pieces; mince (often followed by up): to chop up an onion; to chop meat.

(in tennis, cricket, etc.) to hit (a ball) with a chop stroke.

to weed and thin out (growing cotton) with a hoe.

Fox Hunting. (of a hound or pack) to attack and kill (a fox that has not begun to run).

verb (used without object), chopped, chop·ping.

to make a quick, heavy stroke or a series of strokes, as with an ax.

Boxing. to throw or deliver a short blow, especially a downward one while in a clinch.

(in tennis, cricket, etc.) to employ or deliver a chop stroke.

to go, come, or move suddenly or violently.

noun

an act or instance of chopping.

a cutting blow.

Boxing. a short blow, especially a downward one, executed while in a clinch.

a piece chopped off.

an individual cut or portion of meat, as mutton, lamb, veal, or pork, usually one containing a rib.

crushed or ground grain used as animal feed.

a short, irregular, broken motion of waves; choppiness: There's too much chop for rowing today.

rough, turbulent water, as of a sea or lake.

(in tennis, cricket, etc.) a chop stroke.

Idioms

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

Origin of chop

1350–1400; Middle English choppen; variant of chap¹

Synonym study

1. See cut.

chop

[chop]

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.

to barter.
to bandy words; argue.

Idioms

chop logic, to reason or dispute argumentatively; draw unnecessary distinctions.

Origin of chop

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)

chop

[chop]

noun

Usually chops. the jaw.

chops,

the oral cavity; mouth.
Slang.the embouchure or technique necessary to play a wind instrument.
Slang.musical ability on any instrument, especially in playing jazz or rock; technical virtuosity.
Slang.the music or musical part played by an instrumentalist, especially a solo passage.

an entranceway, as into a body of water.

Horology. either of two pieces clasping the end of the suspension spring of a pendulum.

Idioms

bust one's chops, Slang. to exert oneself.

bust someone's chops, Slang. to annoy with nagging or criticism: Stop busting my chops—I'll get the job done.

lick one's chops, to await with pleasure; anticipate; relish: He was already licking his chops over the expected inheritance.

Also chap.

Origin of chop

1350–1400; Middle English; perhaps special use of chop¹

chop

⁴

[chop]

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. 2019

Related Words for chop

cleave, cube, divide, mince, slash, hack, whack, hew, hash, clip, fragment, mangle, lop, fell, shear, truncate, sever, dice, axe, hackle

Examples from the Web for chop

Contemporary Examples of chop

The nation that once revered him threatened to chop him up and fry him into calamari.
The Amazing Tale of Paul the Psychic Octopus: Germany’s World Cup Soothsayer
Emily Shire
July 12, 2014
He says he can chop about three an hour, and two face cords translates to 36 barrels.
Brooklyn’s Booming Firewood Industry
Dale Eisinger
July 8, 2014
Kate may chop her hair in advance of Australia visit next month.
GASP! Kate Middleton To Change Her Hairstyle?
Tom Sykes
February 28, 2014
But, in theory, the minute she announces, unauthorized PACs, whether pro- or anti-, will need to chop her name from their titles.
Hillary’s SuperPAC War Proves Yet Again That Campaign Finance Needs a Fix
Michelle Cottle
January 28, 2014
Peel it, chop it, steam or boil it and turn it into muffins, or pie, or biscuits or a curry or soup.
Eat Your Halloween Pumpkin and Save the Planet!
Sarah Elton
October 31, 2013

Historical Examples of chop

Mash or chop the berries, as preferred, and add the sugar to them.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 5
Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
Cook them until they are quite soft, and then chop them or mash them.
Woman's Institute Library of Cookery, Vol. 3
Woman's Institute of Domestic Arts and Sciences
Drain it, cut the leaves from the stalks, and chop them fine.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches
Eliza Leslie
Then chop a half-pint of oysters, and beat six eggs very well.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches
Eliza Leslie
Boil the spinach as above, and drain and press it, but do not chop it.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various Branches
Eliza Leslie

British Dictionary definitions for chop

chop

verb chops, chopping or chopped

(often foll by down or off) to cut (something) with a blow from an axe or other sharp tool

(tr) to produce or make in this mannerto chop firewood

(tr often foll by up) to cut into pieces

(tr) British informal to dispense with or reduce

(intr) to move quickly or violently

sport to hit (a ball) sharply downwards

boxing martial arts to punch or strike (an opponent) with a short sharp blow

Western African an informal word for eat

noun

a cutting blow

the act or an instance of chopping

a piece chopped off

a slice of mutton, lamb, or pork, generally including a rib

Australian and NZ slang a share (esp in the phrase get or hop in for one's chop)

Western African an informal word for food

Australian and NZ a competition of skill and speed in chopping logs

sport a sharp downward blow or stroke

not much chop Australian and NZ informal not much good; poor

the chop slang dismissal from employment

Word Origin for chop

C16: variant of chap 1

chop

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

chop

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

Word Origin and History for chop

v.1

"to cut with a quick blow," mid-14c., of uncertain origin, perhaps from Old North French choper (Old French coper "to cut, cut off," 12c., Modern French couper), from Vulgar Latin *cuppare "to behead," from a root meaning "head," but influenced in Old French by couper "to strike." Related: Chopped; chopping.

v.2

"shift quickly," 1530s, earlier "to bargain" (early 15c.), ultimately from Old English ceapian "to bargain" (see cheap); here with a sense of "changing back and forth," probably from common expressions such as to chop and change "barter." To chop logic is recorded from 1570s. Related: Chopped; chopping.

"act of chopping," mid-14c., from chop (v.1). Meaning "piece cut off" is mid-15c.; specifically "slice of meat" from mid-17c. Sense of "a blow, strike" is from 1550s.