the jaws or cheeks; jowls the mouth embouchure skill - lick one's chops ⇒
to anticipate with pleasure
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
chop1 /tʃɑp/USA pronunciation
v., chopped, chop•ping, n.
v.
n. [countable]
chop3 /tʃɑp/USA pronunciation n.
chop4 /tʃɑp/USA pronunciation n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025v.
- to cut or separate (something) with quick, heavy blows, using a sharp tool like an ax: [~ + down/off + object]to chop down a tree. She chopped off a branch.[no object]He chopped at the tree but couldn't make a dent in it.
- [~ (+ up) + object] to cut into smaller pieces;
mince: to chop (up) celery. - Sport to hit with a sharp, downward stroke:[~ + object]He chopped the guard on the neck.
n. [countable]
- an act or instance of chopping:One chop and the wood was split.
- Foodan individual cut or portion of lamb, mutton, pork, or veal, usually containing a rib:barbecued pork chops.
- an area of choppy water:sailing in a rough chop.
chop3 /tʃɑp/USA pronunciation n.
- [countable] Usually, chops. [plural]
- the jaw.
- the lower part of the cheek;
the flesh over the lower jaw.
chop4 /tʃɑp/USA pronunciation n. [countable]
- a stamp or seal used as an identification mark, esp. in the Far East:He put his chop on the bank form and let us go.
chop1
(chop),USA pronunciation v., chopped, chop•ping, n.
v.t.
v.i.
n.
chop2 (chop),USA pronunciation v.i., chopped, chop•ping.
chop3 (chop),USA pronunciation n.
chop4 (chop),USA pronunciation n.
v.t.
- to cut or sever with a quick, heavy blow or a series of blows, using an ax, hatchet, etc. (often fol. by down, off, etc.):to chop down a tree.
- to make or prepare for use by so cutting:to chop logs.
- to cut in pieces;
mince (often fol. by up):to chop up an onion; to chop meat. - (in tennis, cricket, etc.) to hit (a ball) with a chop stroke.
- Botanyto weed and thin out (growing cotton) with a hoe.
- Sport[Fox Hunting.](of a hound or pack) to attack and kill (a fox that has not begun to run).
v.i.
- to make a quick, heavy stroke or a series of strokes, as with an ax.
- Sport[Boxing.]to throw or deliver a short blow, esp. a downward one while in a clinch.
- Sport(in tennis, cricket, etc.) to employ or deliver a chop stroke.
- to go, come, or move suddenly or violently.
- Idioms chop or cut down to size. See cut (def. 49).
n.
- an act or instance of chopping.
- a cutting blow.
- Sport[Boxing.]a short blow, esp. a downward one, executed while in a clinch.
- a piece chopped off.
- Foodan individual cut or portion of meat, as mutton, lamb, veal, or pork, usually one containing a rib.
- Agriculturecrushed or ground grain used as animal feed.
- a short, irregular, broken motion of waves;
choppiness:There's too much chop for rowing today. - rough, turbulent water, as of a sea or lake.
- See chop stroke.
- 1350–1400; Middle English choppen; variant of chap1
- 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged See cut.
chop2 (chop),USA pronunciation v.i., chopped, chop•ping.
- to turn, shift, or change suddenly:The wind chopped to the west.
- to vacillate;
change one's mind. - [Obs.]
- to barter.
- to bandy words;
argue.
- Idioms chop logic, to reason or dispute argumentatively;
draw unnecessary distinctions.
- 1425–75; variant of obsolete chap barter, Middle English chappen (with vowel as in chapman), chepen, Old English cēapian to trade (derivative of cēap sale, trade; see cheap)
chop3 (chop),USA pronunciation n.
- Usually, chops. the jaw.
- Music chops:
- the oral cavity;
mouth. - Music and Dance[Slang.]the embouchure or technique necessary to play a wind instrument.
- Music and Dance[Slang.]musical ability on any instrument, esp. in playing jazz or rock;
technical virtuosity. - Music and Dance[Slang.]the music or musical part played by an instrumentalist, esp. a solo passage.
- the oral cavity;
- an entranceway, as into a body of water.
- Time[Horol.]either of two pieces clasping the end of the suspension spring of a pendulum.
- bust one's chops, [Slang.]to exert oneself.
- Slang Terms bust someone's chops, to annoy with nagging or criticism:Stop busting my chops —I'll get the job done.
- Idioms lick one's chops, to await with pleasure;
anticipate;
relish:He was already licking his chops over the expected inheritance.
- 1350–1400; Middle English; perh. special use of chop1
chop4 (chop),USA pronunciation n.
- an official stamp or seal, or a permit or clearance, esp. as formerly used in India and China.
- a design, corresponding to a brand or trademark, stamped on goods to indicate their identity or quality.
- the signature stamp of an artist, printmaker, etc., testifying to the authenticity of a work.
- quality, class, or grade:a musician of the first chop.
- Hindi chāp impression, stamp
- 1605–15
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
- often followed by down or off:
to cut (something) with a blow from an axe or other sharp tool - (transitive)
to produce or make in this manner: to chop firewood - (transitive) often followed by up:
to cut into pieces - (transitive)
to dispense with or reduce - (intransitive)
to move quickly or violently to hit (a ball) sharply downwards to punch or strike (an opponent) with a short sharp blow
an informal word for eat
a cutting blow the act or an instance of chopping a piece chopped off a slice of mutton, lamb, or pork, generally including a rib a share (esp in the phrase getorhop in for one's chop)
an informal word for fooda competition of skill and speed in chopping logs a sharp downward blow or stroke - not much chop ⇒
not much good; poor - the chop ⇒
dismissal from employment
- (intransitive)
to change direction suddenly; vacillate (esp in the phrase chop and change) to barter - chop logic ⇒
to use excessively subtle or involved logic or argument
a design stamped on goods as a trademark, esp in the Far East