chop
1- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- chop/cut down to size. cut(def 89).
Origin of chop
1Synonym study
chop
2- 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.
- chop logic, to reason or dispute argumentatively; draw unnecessary distinctions.
Origin of chop
2chop
3- 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.
- 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.
Origin of chop
3chop
4- 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
4Related Words for chops
cleave, cube, divide, mince, slash, hack, whack, hew, hash, clip, fragment, mangle, lop, fell, shear, truncate, sever, dice, axe, hackleExamples from the Web for chops
Contemporary Examples of chops
Her chops landed her several TV gigs, including a recurring role as an NBC page on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.
Maybe then Napa and Sonoma could get the chops to design an appellation regime of integrity.
Even gay conservatives and contrarians are circling, licking their chops.
The Democratic hopeful for Texas governor proved she had chops as a local Republican pol.
However, this girl has the chops to recall '90s Mariah Carey.
From Katy Perry to Alice in Chains, the Best Music Videos of the WeekVictoria Kezra
September 7, 2013
Historical Examples of chops
Then he licked his chops and looked in admiration on his worldly friend.
A Night OutEdward Peple
Pork steaks or chops should be taken from the neck, or the loin.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various BranchesEliza Leslie
Take the chops out of the butter, and cover them with the seasoning.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various BranchesEliza Leslie
Take a neck of mutton, cut it into chops, and fry them brown.
Directions for Cookery, in its Various BranchesEliza Leslie
I mustn't eat myself, or I shall have no appetite for the chops.'
Life And Adventures Of Martin ChuzzlewitCharles Dickens
chops
- the jaws or cheeks; jowls
- the mouth
- slang
- musicembouchure
- jazzskill
- lick one's chops informal to anticipate with pleasure
Word Origin for chops
chop
1- (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
- 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
chop
2- (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
chop
3- a design stamped on goods as a trademark, esp in the Far East
Word Origin for chop
Word Origin and History for chops
"jaws, sides of the face," c.1500, perhaps a variant of chaps (n.2) in the same sense, which is of unknown origin.
chop
"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.
chop
"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.
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.