chop

[ chop ]

/ tʃɒp /

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See synonyms for: chop / chopped / chops on Thesaurus.com

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.

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Idioms about chop

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

Origin of chop

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

synonym study for chop

1. See cut.

Words nearby chop

choora, choose, choose up, choosy, Cho Oyu, chop, chopa, Chopart's amputation, Chopart's joint, chopblock, chop-chop

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.

to barter.
to bandy words; argue.

Origin of chop

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.

the jaw.
the lower part of the cheek; the flesh over the lower jaw.

chops,

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

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. 2022

MORE ABOUT CHOP

What is a basic definition of chop?

Chop means to cut something with heavy blows or to cut something into pieces. Chop also refers to a piece of something that was chopped or a fast, downward blow in boxing or martial arts. Chop has many other senses as a verb and a noun.

Chop is frequently followed by down, off, or another preposition. When something is chopped, it is struck with a sharp tool in order to cut it into pieces or completely destroy it. A person or thing that chops is called a chopper.

Real-life examples: Lumberjacks chop down trees with axes or hatchets. A barber will chop off your hair with scissors. Firefighters might have to chop through a door with an axe in order to rescue someone.
Used in a sentence: I helped my dad chop down a Christmas tree.

Chop can also mean to cut something into pieces or slices. Unless it is referring to food, chop is almost always followed by the word up in this sense.

Real-life examples: Butchers chop meat. Chefs will chop onions, carrots, celery, and many other ingredients. A person might chop up furniture in order to make it easier to throw away or burn.
Used in a sentence: I chopped up a tomato and added it to my salad.

A chop is a piece of something that has been chopped off of something else. This sense often refers to a slice or cut of meat.

Real-life examples: Most grocery stores sell pork chops and lamb chops. You might feed your dog chops of beef.
Used in a sentence: I watched the zookeepers feed the tigers big chops of meat.

In boxing and martial arts, a chop is a quick, heavy blow that is usually delivered downward. You may be familiar with this sense because of the common use of karate chops as an attack in popular culture.

Used in a sentence: Nia is able to perform a powerful chop that can cut through a stack of wood.

Where does chop come from?

The first records of chop come from around 1350. It comes from the Middle English choppen and is a variation of the word chap, meaning “to crack” or “to split.”

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to chop?

chopper (noun)
chopped (adjective, past tense verb)

What are some synonyms for chop?

What are some words that share a root or word element with chop?

What are some words that often get used in discussing chop?

How is chop used in real life?

Chop is a very common word that most often means to hack something apart or into pieces.

I may or may not have chopped down a cherry tree this weekend dressed as George Washington.

— Matt MacLeod (@BHHSModelUN) June 1, 2015

I just want to be a good enough chef to chop carrots by throwing them at a ceiling fan and catching them on a plate without looking.

— Matt Roller (@rolldiggity) July 12, 2012

Grilling pork chops tonight. My dog and I both have the salivary glands in wide open drool mode.

— Despite (@catzsparkles) July 13, 2019

Try using chop!

Which of the following would LEAST likely be used to chop something?

A. axe
B. book
C. knife
D. hatchet

How to use chop in a sentence

For marketers, one drawback to exploring Minis is the technical chops required to develop the apps, said Garrett Woods, associate director of platforms at Fullscreen, a social content company.
Snap is exploring bringing ads to Minis|Lara O'Reilly|September 14, 2020|Digiday
Meanwhile, Microsoft already has a social media business—LinkedIn—and has the technical chops to build a social commerce operation.
TikTok: Everything to know about tech’s biggest soap opera|Danielle Abril|September 5, 2020|Fortune
Vondracek harnessed his organizational chops to organize a 48-hour session involving 150 volunteers from among the many hundreds who signed up.
Want to Fix Your Country? Czech This Box|Dan Peleschuk|August 13, 2020|Ozy
From 2005 to 2012, Brazil implemented land-use zoning and paid people not to chop down forests, reducing deforestation by 70 percent.
To prevent the next pandemic, we might need to cut down fewer trees|Jonathan Lambert|July 23, 2020|Science News

You don’t want somebody just chopping you up, put you in pain.
Despite Recent Budget Vote, Reformers See SDPD Cuts as Inevitable|Andrew Keatts|June 23, 2020|Voice of San Diego
He holds up his right hand—“A short chop right above the bridge of the nose”—and gives up a laugh.
The Stacks: The Eyes of Winter: Paul Newman at 70|Peter Richmond|October 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On the same block, Northland Chop Suey, a Chinese restaurant, has been looted at least two times.
Ferguson's Other Race Problem: Riots Damaged Asian-Owned Stores|Tim Mak|August 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
You see people in war paint or doing the tomahawk chop and saying, “Scalp him.”
Amanda Blackhorse Is ‘Confident’ Snyder Will Lose His Redskins Appeal|Robert Silverman|June 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They took their chop or steak at their inn or hotel, or visited the tripe houses.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham|Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
"No sabby lead chop till ploddem withee dipper," explained the Chinaman, imperturbably.
Dope|Sax Rohmer
Not far away from the sloop could be seen plainly that tiny chop-sea which is caused by the breaking of a school of mackerel.
The Rival Campers|Ruel Perley Smith
One old tree, split by a winter storm, I decided to chop down entirely.
The Idyl of Twin Fires|Walter Prichard Eaton
M. Noel, in a dress-coat, very dark skinned and with mutton-chop whiskers, came forward to meet us.
The Nabob|Alphonse Daudet

British Dictionary definitions for chop (1 of 3)

chop¹

/ (tʃɒp) /

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

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

chop

Idioms about chop

Origin of chop

synonym study for chop

Words nearby chop

Other definitions for chop (2 of 4)

Origin of chop

Other definitions for chop (3 of 4)

Origin of chop

Other definitions for chop (4 of 4)

Origin of chop

MORE ABOUT CHOP

What is a basic definition of chop?

Where does chop come from?

Did you know ... ?

How is chop used in real life?

Try using chop!

Words related to chop

How to use chop in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for chop (1 of 3)

Word Origin for chop

British Dictionary definitions for chop (2 of 3)

Word Origin for chop

British Dictionary definitions for chop (3 of 3)

Word Origin for chop