chop

¹

[chop]

verb (used with object)

chopped, chopping 

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 byup ).

   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, chopping 

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, chopping 

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. 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. 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. informal,  not much good; poor

10. slang,  dismissal from employment

chop

²

/ tʃɒp /

verb

1. (intr) to change direction suddenly; vacillate (esp in the phrase chop and change )

2. obsolete,  to barter

3. to use excessively subtle or involved logic or argument

chop

³

/ tʃɒp /

noun

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

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

Old English ceapian to barter; see _cheap , _chapman

Origin of chop³

C17: from Hindi chhāp

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. chop / cut down to size. cut.

2. 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.”

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

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

4. bust one's chops, to exert oneself.

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

   He was already licking his chops over the expected inheritance.

6. bust someone's chops, to annoy with nagging or criticism.

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

Synonym Study

See cut.

Example Sentences

And it’s not just newspapers being gutted; your favorite late-night talk show is on the chopping block, too.

From Salon

To be fair, that part of story comes after the premiere’s cold open, when Dominick’s twin brother Thomas chops off his own hand in a public library.

From Salon

Two men from Cumbria were each jailed for more than four years for chopping down the tree on a stormy night in September 2023.

From BBC

I love lamb and Golden Fleece has a selection, including lamb chops and a lamb shank on their grill menu, as well as ground lamb kebabs, gyros, and souvlaki.

From Salon

“The whole area is on the chopping block at this point.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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

When To Use

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.