chop

[ chop ]

/ tʃɒp /

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.

Nearby words

choon, choora, choose, choose up, choosy, chop, chop chop, chop mark, chop shop, chop stroke, chop suey

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.

Definition for chops (2 of 4)

chop

[ 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

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)

Definition for chops (3 of 4)

chop

[ chop ]

/ tʃɒp /

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.

Also chap.

Origin of chop

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

Definition for chops (4 of 4)

chop

⁴

[ 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. 2019

Examples from the Web for chops

Her chops landed her several TV gigs, including a recurring role as an NBC page on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
The Curious Little Shell That Restarted Jenny Slate’s Career|Luke Hopping|December 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Maybe then Napa and Sonoma could get the chops to design an appellation regime of integrity.
Napa’s Earthquake Is Not The Only Thing Shaking The Vineyards|Clive Irving|August 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Democratic hopeful for Texas governor proved she had chops as a local Republican pol.
When Wendy Davis Was a Republican|Michelle Cottle|January 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
However, this girl has the chops to recall '90s Mariah Carey.
From Katy Perry to Alice in Chains, the Best Music Videos of the Week|Victoria Kezra|September 7, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Then everyone keeps saying that only Clinton has the chops to do things like that.
Michael Tomasky on How Obama Needs to Make Mitt Unacceptable Again|Michael Tomasky|October 10, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Season the chops well, roll in oil, then in bread crumbs, and broil.
The Hotel St. Francis Cook Book|Victor Hirtzler
She brought with her an atmosphere of long-dead beefsteak, chops and onions, and she shrilled for an answer to her question.
New Faces|Myra Kelly
Louie smiled and said something about our interview being literally a tête-à-tête, and we attacked our chops.
The Debit Account|Oliver Onions
Guess we'll have to serve him the same way we did Chops last night, rope and sit on him.
The Pony Rider Boys on the Blue Ridge|Frank Gee Patchin
She cooked steaks and chops for him, and served them with an air of protest that took away his appetite.
The Gay Cockade|Temple Bailey

British Dictionary definitions for chops (1 of 4)

chops

/ (tʃɒps) /

pl n

the jaws or cheeks; jowls

the mouth

slang

music embouchure
jazz skill

lick one's chops informal to anticipate with pleasure

Word Origin for chops

C16: of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for chops (2 of 4)

chop

/ (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 chops (3 of 4)

chop

/ (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 chops (4 of 4)

chop

/ (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

Word Origin and History for chops (1 of 4)

chops

"jaws, sides of the face," c.1500, perhaps a variant of chaps (n.2) in the same sense, which is of unknown origin.

Word Origin and History for chops (1 of 4)

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.

Word Origin and History for chops (2 of 4)

chop

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.

Word Origin and History for chops (3 of 4)

chop

"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.

Idioms and Phrases with chops

chops

see break one's ass (chops); lick one's chops.

chop

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

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

noun

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of chop

Synonym study

Definition for chops (2 of 4)

chop

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

Origin of chop

Definition for chops (3 of 4)

chop

noun

Origin of chop

Definition for chops (4 of 4)

chop

noun

Origin of chop

Examples from the Web for chops

British Dictionary definitions for chops (1 of 4)

chops

pl n

Word Origin for chops

British Dictionary definitions for chops (2 of 4)

chop

verb chops, chopping or chopped

noun

Word Origin for chop

British Dictionary definitions for chops (3 of 4)

chop

verb chops, chopping or chopped

Word Origin for chop

British Dictionary definitions for chops (4 of 4)

chop

noun

Word Origin for chop

Word Origin and History for chops (1 of 4)

chops

Word Origin and History for chops (1 of 4)

chop

Word Origin and History for chops (2 of 4)

chop

Word Origin and History for chops (3 of 4)

chop

Idioms and Phrases with chops

chops