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

But will he be dusting off his vocal chops for another pop cover like in the first film?

From Los Angeles Times

The brilliant brain surgeon Paul Brennan saved my life by chopping out most of my tumour and, with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, it seems to be keeping my cancer in check for now.

From BBC

She is the one and only Cher, an American icon who has long dazzled audiences around the world with her extraordinary singing, acting and comedic chops.

From Los Angeles Times

And there has been the seemingly never-ending chopping and changing of farming ministers as various prime ministers have come and gone.

From BBC

The “White Lotus” actor in recent years has diversified her portfolio to showcase her acting chops and flexed her muscles as a producer with films “Immaculate” and “Anyone but You.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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

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?

• cut
• cleave
• hack
• mince
• slash

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

• choppy
• chopping block
• chophouse
• chop shop
• chopped liver

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

• axe
• hatchet
• cleaver
• knife
• tree
• meat
• vegetables

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