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chop1 definition

chop (c̸häp)

transitive verb chopped, chopping chop′·ping

  1. to cut or make by blows with an ax or other sharp tool to chop down a tree; to chop a hole
  2. to cut into small bits; mince to chop onions
  3. to say in a jerky or abrupt way
  4. to hit with a short, sharp downward stroke

Etymology: ME choppen, prob. < northern OFr choper, for OFr coper, to cut off (< VL *cuppare, to decapitate < *cuppum, skull < LL cuppa, cup); infl. by couper, to strike (< coup, colp, a blow: see coup)

intransitive verb

  1. to make quick, cutting strokes with a sharp tool
  2. to do something with a quick, sharp, or jerky motion

noun

  1. the act of chopping
  2. a short, sharp downward blow or stroke
  3. a piece chopped off
  4. a slice of lamb, pork, etc. cut, along with a piece of bone, from the rib, loin, or shoulder
  5. a short, broken movement of waves
chop2 definition

chop (c̸häp)

noun

  1. a jaw
  2. a cheek

Etymology: var. of chap

chop3 definition

chop (c̸häp)

intransitive verb chopped, chopping chop′·ping

to shift or veer suddenly, as the wind; change direction

Etymology: LME choppen, var. of chappen, to barter < OE ceapian, to bargain: see cheap

chop Idioms

chop logic

to argue, esp. in a hairsplitting way
chop4 definition

chop (c̸häp)

noun

  1. an official seal, stamp, permit, or license, as orig. in India and China
  2. a brand, or trademark
  3. Informal quality; grade; brand a writer of the first chop

Etymology: Hindi chāp

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

chop Synonyms

chop

v.

  1. To cut with an ax

    fell, hack, hew, whack; see cut 1.

  2. To cut into small bits

    mince, dice, cube, cut up; see chip, cut 1.


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

chop Usage Examples

Object

  • tomato: Chop the 2nd tomato into bite size pieces at slow speed stirring with the tamper.

Adjective modifier

  • grilled: On a nearby grilled lamb chops cruises of special interest.

Preposition: into

  • chunk: Peel and chop into chunks the onion, carrots and celery.

Adjective complement

  • 25g: Mash 1 small banana and roughly chop 25g ( 1oz ) ready-to-eat apricots.

Modifying Another Word

  • coarsely: Coarsely chop the tomatoes, into maybe ten or twelve chunks each.

Noun used with modifier

  • pork: Pink pork chops on a bed of shredded nettles.

Particle object: down_obj

  • tree: Hundreds of Haitians cross the border every day to chop down trees for firewood.

Particle object: up_obj

  • onion: While the oil heats, chop up the onion pretty finely.

Followed by an intransitive particle

  • off: For every branch you chop off, two grow back in its place.
chop usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

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MLA Style

"chop." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/chop>

APA Style

chop. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/chop

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