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)

• slice
• mince
• dice
• grate
• mash

Noun (1)

• blow
• slap
• thump
• whack
• hit
• knock
• punch
• swipe
• pound
• thud
• stroke
• poke
• smack
• lick
• beat
• spank
• bang

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

Verb

The vegetables should be cleaned, but they can be roughly chopped. —Cody Godwin, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2025

This year’s annual cast-trimming seems to have struck some fans particularly hard, what with the popular Walker, Longfellow, Emil Wakim and Heidi Gardner among producer Lorne Michaels’ chopping-block heads. —Greg Evans, Deadline, 29 Aug. 2025

Noun

Menu items range from fresh Gulf grouper and Cioppino to veal chops and roasted duckling. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 3 Sep. 2025

Cinephiles will be charmed, and writers and directors will recognize Linklater’s chops. —Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 1 Sep. 2025

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

Rhymes for chop

• bop
• cop
• crop
• drop
• flop
• fop
• hop
• knop
• lop
• mop
• op
• plop

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"