chopper

noun chop·per \ ˈchä-pər \

Updated on: 18 May 2018

Definition of chopper

1 : one that chops

2 choppers plural, slang : teeth

3 : a device that interrupts an electric current or a beam of radiation (such as light) at short regular intervals

4 : machine gun

5 : helicopter

6 : a high-bouncing batted baseball

7 : a customized motorcycle; specifically : one that has the front wheel forward of the handlebars

See chopper defined for English-language learners

See chopper defined for kids

Examples of chopper in a Sentence

The sound of choppers filled the sky.
army choppers evacuated refugees from the war zone

Recent Examples of chopper from the Web

Some hand blenders move even more into the territory of other tools, offering interchangeable blades or attachments such as whisks and choppers.

— becky krystal, charlotteobserver, "Why buying an immersion blender is a smooth move | Charlotte Observer," 15 May 2018
Renato Nunez whiffed on a Betts grounder to third that could have been a double play, and Vazquez scored the tying run as Benintendi's chopper hit off second base.

— jeff wilson, star-telegram, "Rangers Reaction: Profar, Hamels plead guilty for Rangers' loss to Red Sox | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 5 May 2018
Cameras also follow a Biscayne Bay Pilot who is dispatched from PortMiami to carefully guide mega container ship the Maersk Sana through Government Cut while a Miami-Dade police chopper responds to a report of a submerged van in a canal.

— johnny diaz, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Smithsonian Channel explores Miami from the sky in upcoming 'Aerial Cities' episode," 27 Apr. 2018
Molteno, fearing for the chopper's safety—and realizing Mararv might be bleeding to death—decided to return to headquarters, 15 miles away, to retrieve a third team of rangers and seek medical attention for Mararv.

— tristan mcconnell, GQ, "The Bloody Toll of Congo's Elephant Wars," 16 Apr. 2018
Planes and helicopters such as the A-10 Thunderbolt, B1-B Lancer, F-15 and F-16 fighters and Blackhawk and Lakota choppers will be on the tarmac for up-close inspection. 5.

— weldon b. johnson, azcentral, "Blue Angels headline Luke Air Force Base air show," 13 Mar. 2018
Categories include hot rods, classics, tuners, trucks, customs, choppers, rat rods, unrestored original and works in progress.

— linda mcintosh, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Local Marines receive scholarships from Kiwanis ... community events," 30 Apr. 2018
The Navy's latest Selected Acquisition Report on the helicopter acknowledges its problems but says the chopper remains on schedule to meet its milestones.

— courant.com, "Sikorsky's Marine Copter Slipping Behind Schedule, Pentagon Says," 25 Apr. 2018
Shortstop Connor Williams smothered a low liner to start the sixth and second baseman Blaine Holden made a nice play of a slow chopper, gunning to Martin to get Josiah Castro by half-a-step.

— robert avery, Houston Chronicle, "Barrow, Deer Park blank Bulldogs 7-0," 18 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chopper.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of chopper

1552

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

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chopper Synonyms

Synonyms

copter, helicopter, whirlybird;

Related Words

rotary-wing aircraft, rotorcraft;

chopper

verb

Definition of chopper

: helicopter

Recent Examples of chopper from the Web

Trump climbed out, said a few words with Pence, and then retreated to his private helicopter, also bearing his name, and choppered off for the city proper.

— Longreads, "The RNC, Revisited," 31 Oct. 2017
Despite concerns from some Palm Beachers about the noise that could come from Trump choppering onto the island, the Town Council agreed to make a presidential exception to allow a Mar-a-Lago landing spot.

— andy reid, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Trump's helicopter commutes yet to fly at Mar-a-Lago," 26 July 2017
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — President Donald Trump choppered onto a hulking, gleaming aircraft carrier here Thursday to rally momentum for his ambitious call for a major hike in military spending.

— the washington post, Twin Cities, "Trump tours a hulking aircraft carrier to promote hike in military spending," 2 Mar. 2017
For $700 to $900 per person, Queensland’s Pterodactyl Helicopters will chopper you and a companion to three pubs and two breweries in this vast — 2½ times the size of Texas — state.

— peter rowe, sandiegouniontribune.com, "CityBeat and 10 Barrel's relationship status: It's complicated," 27 Apr. 2017