noun

chop

noun

A cut of meat, often including part of a rib bone.

"We grilled pork chops for dinner."

"The butcher trimmed the fat off the lamb chop."

A short, sharp strike, especially with the side of the hand or with a blade.

"He split the log with one chop of the axe."

Rough, choppy waves on the water, usually caused by wind.

"The boat pitched badly in the chop just outside the harbour."

Informal: dismissal from a job ("the chop").

"Half the department got the chop after the merger."

verb

To cut something into pieces with quick, forceful strokes.

"Chop the onions finely before frying them."

"He chopped the firewood into smaller pieces."

How to Use Chop

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishCutting something with quick strokes, or (informally) being fired.

Easily confused with

shop →

Common pairings

chop vegetables pork chop get the chop choppy water

Word Forms

chopped past tense, chopped past tense, chopped past tense, chopped past tense, chops plural, chops plural, chops plural, chops plural, chops plural, chops singular, chops singular, chops singular, chops singular

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We grilled pork _____ for dinner.

Etymology

From Middle English choppen, of uncertain origin — possibly imitative of the sound, or a variant of chap ("to crack").

Rhymes for chop

hop shop bishop bellhop workshop pawnshop bookshop sweatshop photoshop archbishop barbershop

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