Advertisement
Advertisement
chop
1[chop]
verb (used with object)
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 byup ).
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)
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.
chop
2[chop]
verb (used without object)
to turn, shift, or change suddenly.
The wind chopped to the west.
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.
Obsolete.
to barter.
to bandy words; argue.
chop
3[chop]
noun
Usually chops Also
the jaw.
the lower part of the cheek; the flesh over the lower jaw.
chops,
the oral cavity; mouth.
Slang.the embouchure or technique necessary to play a wind instrument.
Slang.musical ability or virtuosity on any instrument, especially in playing jazz or rock.
Slang.the music or musical part played by an instrumentalist, especially a solo passage.
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.
an entranceway, as into a body of water.
Horology.either of two pieces clasping the end of the suspension spring of a pendulum.
chop
4[chop]
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.
chop
1/ ʃɒ /
verb
to cut (something) with a blow from an axe or other sharp tool
(tr) to produce or make in this manner
to chop firewood
to cut into pieces
informal(tr) 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
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
slanga share (esp in the phrase get or hop in for one's chop )
an informal word for food
a competition of skill and speed in chopping logs
sport a sharp downward blow or stroke
informalnot much good; poor
slangdismissal from employment
chop
2/ ʃɒ /
verb
(intr) to change direction suddenly; vacillate (esp in the phrase chop and change )
obsoleteto barter
to use excessively subtle or involved logic or argument
chop
3/ ʃɒ /
noun
a design stamped on goods as a trademark, esp in the Far East
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of chop2
Origin of chop4
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of chop1
Origin of chop2
Origin of chop3
Idioms and Phrases
chop / cut down to size. cut.
chop logic,
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.
reasoning that involves unnecessary distinctions or spurious arguments; rationalization.
The court dismissed his defense as “chop logic of the most deceptive kind.”
chop and change, to keep shifting views, plans, practices, etc..
People felt the government was chopping and changing too much on policy commitments.
bust one's chops, to exert oneself.
lick one's chops, to await with pleasure; anticipate; relish.
He was already licking his chops over the expected inheritance.
bust someone's chops, to annoy with nagging or criticism.
Stop busting my chops—I'll get the job done.
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
Since 1959, they’ve come for Chinese American classics such as sweet and sour chicken, barbecued pork chow mein, egg rolls, chop suey and shrimp fried rice.
"They both picked up a club early. They saw me going out, chopping it around, and they're much better than I could ever dream of being."
That’s because many of the scientific projects on the chopping block provide knowledge needed to advance those goals.
In the five decades following Steven Spielberg’s groundbreaking masterpiece, most sharksploitation has been chopped up and diluted into chum, tossed into the water by careless, filmmaking fishermen.
Also on the chopping block is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, which provides the major funding for state and local naloxone distribution and drug treatment programs.
Advertisement
When To Use
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Used in a sentence: Nia is able to perform a powerful chop that can cut through a stack of wood.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Browse