chop

¹

[ chop ]

verb (used with object)

, chopped, chop·ping.

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.

2. to make or prepare for use by so cutting:

   to chop logs.

3. to cut in pieces; mince (often followed by up ):

   to chop up an onion; to chop meat.

4. (in tennis, cricket, etc.) to hit (a ball) with a chop stroke.
5. to weed and thin out (growing cotton) with a hoe.
6. 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.

1. to make a quick, heavy stroke or a series of strokes, as with an ax.
2. Boxing. to throw or deliver a short blow, especially a downward one while in a clinch.
3. (in tennis, cricket, etc.) to employ or deliver a chop stroke.
4. to go, come, or move suddenly or violently.

noun

1. an act or instance of chopping.
2. a cutting blow.
3. Boxing. a short blow, especially a downward one, executed while in a clinch.
4. a piece chopped off.
5. an individual cut or portion of meat, as mutton, lamb, veal, or pork, usually one containing a rib.
6. crushed or ground grain used as animal feed.
7. a short, irregular, broken motion of waves; choppiness:

   There's too much chop for rowing today.

8. rough, turbulent water, as of a sea or lake.
9. (in tennis, cricket, etc.) a chop stroke.

chop

²

[ chop ]

verb (used without object)

, chopped, chop·ping.

1. to turn, shift, or change suddenly:

   The wind chopped to the west.

2. to keep alternating between two states, positions, etc.; vacillate:

   The grain markets are chopping back and forth day to day because of the uncertain weather forecast.

3. Obsolete.
   1. to barter.
   2. to bandy words; argue.

chop

³

[ chop ]

noun

1. Usually chops. Also
   1. the jaw.
   2. the lower part of the cheek; the flesh over the lower jaw.
2. 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.

3. an entranceway, as into a body of water.
4. Horology. either of two pieces clasping the end of the suspension spring of a pendulum.

chop

⁴

[ chop ]

noun

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

   a musician of the first chop.

chop

¹

/ tʃɒp /

verb

1. often foll bydown or off to cut (something) with a blow from an axe or other sharp tool
2. tr to produce or make in this manner

   to chop firewood

3. troften foll byup to cut into pieces
4. informal.
   tr to dispense with or reduce
5. intr to move quickly or violently
6. sport to hit (a ball) sharply downwards
7. boxing martial arts to punch or strike (an opponent) with a short sharp blow
8. an informal word for eat

noun

1. a cutting blow
2. the act or an instance of chopping
3. a piece chopped off
4. a slice of mutton, lamb, or pork, generally including a rib
5. slang.
   a share (esp in the phrase get or hop in for one's chop )
6. an informal word for food
7. a competition of skill and speed in chopping logs
8. sport a sharp downward blow or stroke
9. not much chop informal.
   not much good; poor
10. the chop slang.
    dismissal from employment

chop

²

/ tʃɒp /

noun

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

chop

³

/ tʃɒp /

verb

1. intr to change direction suddenly; vacillate (esp in the phrase chop and change )
2. obsolete.
   to barter
3. chop logic
   to use excessively subtle or involved logic or argument

Word History and Origins

Origin of chop¹

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

Origin of chop²

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”; cheap )

Origin of chop³

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; perhaps special use of chop ¹

Origin of chop⁴

First recorded in 1605–15, chop is from the Hindi word chāp “impression, stamp”

Word History and Origins

Origin of chop¹

C16: variant of chap ¹

Origin of chop²

C17: from Hindi chhāp

Origin of chop³

Old English ceapian to barter; see cheap , chapman

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. bust one's chops, Slang. to exert oneself.
2. bust someone's chops, Slang. to annoy with nagging or criticism:

   Stop busting my chops—I'll get the job done.

3. chop and change, Chiefly British. to keep shifting views, plans, practices, etc.:

   People felt the government was chopping and changing too much on policy commitments.

4. chop logic,
   1. to reason or dispute combatively, often by making unnecessary distinctions or spurious arguments:

      These men were forced by circumstances to think out how to deal with reality, instead of chopping logic in a university classroom.

      He chops logic so you won’t notice that he really has no case.

   2. reasoning that involves unnecessary distinctions or spurious arguments; rationalization:

      The court dismissed his defense as “chop logic of the most deceptive kind.”

5. lick one's chops, to await with pleasure; anticipate; relish:

   He was already licking his chops over the expected inheritance.

6. chop / cut down to size. cut ( def 92 ).

Synonym Study

See cut.

Example Sentences

In a forest close to Roriak, a group of men and women chop down trees to make charcoal.

From BBC

Ultimately, celebrity chefs can teach us a lot more than just how to cook a souffle or chop an onion without crying.

From Salon

I’ll chop all those up, add them to some tomato paste and some tomatoes.

From Los Angeles Times

Chop onion, celery and green onions, separate white and green parts, and set aside.

From Salon

I prefer a coarse chop of both artichokes and oysters to a smooth texture.

From Salon

Related Words

• cleave
• cube
• divide
• hack
• mince
• slash
• whack