chop

1 of 4

verb (1)

ˈchäp 

chopped; chopping

transitive verb

1

a

: to cut into or sever usually by repeated blows of a sharp instrument

b

: to cut into pieces

—often used with up

chop up an onion

c

: to weed and thin out (young cotton)

d

: to cut as if by chopping

chop prices

a bridge chops the lake in two

2

: to strike (something, such as a ball) with a short quick downward stroke

3

: to subject to the action of a chopper

chop a beam of light

intransitive verb

1

: to make a quick stroke or repeated strokes with or as if with a sharp instrument (such as an ax)

2

archaic : to move or act suddenly or violently

chop

2 of 4

noun (1)

1

a

: a forceful usually slanting blow with or as if with an ax or cleaver

b

: a sharp downward blow or stroke

2

: a small cut of meat often including part of a rib see lamb illustration

3

: a mark made by or as if by chopping

4

: material that has been chopped up

5

a

: a short abrupt motion (as of a wave)

b

: a stretch of choppy sea

6

: chopper sense 6

7

chiefly British : abrupt elimination or removal (as from a job)

it is the very top men who have got the chop

—Daily Mirror

chop

3 of 4

verb (2)

chopped; chopping

intransitive verb

1

: to change direction

2

: to veer with or as if with wind

chop

4 of 4

noun (2)

1

a

: a seal or official stamp or its impression

b

: a license validated by a seal

2

a

: a mark on goods or coins to indicate nature or quality

b

: a kind, brand, or lot of goods bearing the same chop

c

: quality, grade

of the first chop

Phrases

chop logic

: to argue with sophistical reasoning and minute distinctions

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• dice
• hash
• mince

Noun (1)

• bang
• bash
• bat
• beat
• belt
• biff
• blow
• bop
• box
• buffet
• bust
• clap
• clip
• clout
• crack
• cuff
• dab
• douse [British]
• fillip
• hack
• haymaker
• hit
• hook
• knock
• larrup [dialect]
• lash
• lick
• pelt
• pick
• plump
• poke
• pound
• punch
• rap
• slam
• slap
• slug
• smack
• smash
• sock
• spank
• stinger
• stripe
• stroke
• swat
• swipe
• switch
• thud
• thump
• thwack
• wallop
• welt
• whack
• wham
• whop
• whap

Examples of chop in a Sentence

Verb (1)

chop the onions before adding them to the pot

Noun (1)

delivered a sharp chop to his opponent's neck

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Like the rest of his costars, Cooper is known for his dramatic roles, such as Silver Linings Playbook, A Star Is Born and Maestro, but has some comedic chops as well. —Kelsie Gibson, Peoplemag, 17 May 2024

Krasinski has certainly proven his chops at original storytelling in the horror-thriller space with the Quiet Place series. —Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 May 2024

Pair with hard cheeses, roast or fried chicken, or grilled pork chops. —Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 12 May 2024

For your main, go for the crispy pork chop with peppers, onions, and potatoes. —Samantha Dimauro, Travel + Leisure, 10 May 2024

While the actor’s bold hair transformation at the Met left everyone in awe, her signature fresh blonde chop paired with her effortlessly girly, off-duty look was Sydney Sweeney through and through. —Alex Kessler, Glamour, 8 May 2024

Or try its cousin, a pork chop sandwich, like a katsu sando (not bone-in Maxwell Street style), also in a pineapple bao. —Louisa Kung Liu Chu, Chicago Tribune, 7 May 2024

Get The Recipe 02 of 14 Mississippi Pork Chops Tangy pepperoncinis and zesty ranch dressing mix come together to add layers of flavor to bone-in pork chops. —Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 1 May 2024

Laurie has also credited much of her acting chops to her time with the theater. —Haley Van Horn, Peoplemag, 3 May 2024

Verb

Separately, Apple for the first time joined the ranks of tech companies cutting Bay Area jobs in the current downsizing cycle — revealing last month plans to chop 614 jobs in Santa Clara. —George Avalos, The Mercury News, 17 May 2024

Onions are ready to be chopped, bags of chips are ready for snacking, and boxes upon boxes of beer are ready for cracking. —Amanda Hancock, The Courier-Journal, 14 May 2024

When cool enough to handle, chop into bite-size pieces, and place in a large salad bowl. —Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 11 May 2024

Prepare ahead: The vegetables can be chopped in advance. —Lidey Heuck, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2024

The wood was chopped with an ax, but no ax was found anywhere. —Leyton Cassidy, Longreads, 7 May 2024

Cold chopped salads and hot lentil soup were also served. —Ahmed Ali Akbar, Chicago Tribune, 5 May 2024

Candlelight flickers over bowls of things like cannellini beans in saffron, and mutton chops beside piles of bitter cime di rapa. —Jo Rodgers, Vogue, 3 May 2024

Here are the details of where these employers have decided to chop jobs and when the cutbacks will occur, according to the WARN letters sent to the state EDD: — Intel, 75 job cuts in San Jose on Innovation Drive. —George Avalos, The Mercury News, 3 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English chappen, choppen — more at chap

Verb (2)

Middle English chappen, choppen to barter

Noun (2)

Hindi chāp & Urdu chhāp stamp

First Known Use

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (2)

1540, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1614, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing chop

• American chop suey
• chop and change
• chop block
• chop-chop
• chop down
• chop logic
• chop mark
• chop off
• chop shop
• chop-socky
• chop suey
• chop up
• for the chop
• get the chop
• give (someone) the chop

Kids Definition

chop

1 of 3 verb

ˈchäp 

chopped; chopping

1

: to cut by striking especially over and over with something sharp

chop down a tree

2

: to cut into small pieces

chop onions

3

: to strike quickly or again and again

chop

2 of 3 noun

1

: a sharp downward blow or stroke (as with an ax)

2

: a small cut of meat often including a part of a rib

3

: a short quick motion (as of a wave)

chop

3 of 3 verb

chopped; chopping

: to change direction

Etymology

Verb

Middle English chappen, choppen "to cut, crack"

Verb

Middle English choppen, chappen "to trade, barter"