chopstick

noun

chop·​stick ˈchäp-ˌstik 

plural chopsticks

: one of a pair of slender sticks (as of wood or plastic) held between the thumb and fingers and used to lift food to the mouth

Never spear food with a chopstick! If you're having trouble picking up your food, a spoon is your plan B.

—Laura Barry

—usually used in plural

To eat rice, both etiquette and practicality dictate that you use chopsticks to pick up a morsel of meat, fish, or whatever …; position it over the rice bowl, allowing its juices or sauce to drip into the rice; eat the morsel; then shovel some rice into your mouth with the chopsticks.

—Saveur

"… I do get uncomfortable when people use chopsticks for every Asian food. Traditionally, I may use chopsticks when my food is served in a soup bowl with noodles or rice, but we often use forks and spoons for our dishes. …"

—Darrell Loo, quoted in Feast

Illustration of chopstick

Examples of chopstick in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The flight profile called for the Super Heavy booster to fly back to the launch tower caught on the tower’s pivoting arms called chopsticks. —Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2025

So, prior to today's launch, the company made some modifications to help facilitate a future Ship chopsticks catch. —Mike Wall, Space.com, 7 Mar. 2025

To clean Belgian or mini waffle iron plates, wrap the pointy end of a chopstick in a damp paper towel and use it to wipe away batter and oil residue. —Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Mar. 2025

Spider wrestling, as it is traditionally practiced in the Philippines, involves putting two female spiders at opposing edges of a narrow stick (one that resembles a long chopstick). —Scott Travers, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Chinese Pidgin English chop fast + English stick

First Known Use

1699, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for chopstick

• broomstick
• dipstick
• homesick
• joystick
• lipstick
• nonstick
• pickwick
• picnic
• redbrick
• seasick
• sidekick
• slapstick

Kids Definition

chopstick

noun

chop·​stick ˈchäp-ˌstik 

: one of a pair of slender sticks used chiefly in Asian countries to lift food to the mouth