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chop

noun · verb

Simple meaning

A blow with an axe, cleaver, or similar implement.

Pronunciation

Say it like this:

chahp
US device voice
IPA pronunciation (US)

ˈtʃɑp

This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.

IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.

Word Review

Definition

Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.

noun

  1. A blow with an axe, cleaver, or similar implement.

  2. martial arts

    A blow delivered with the hand rigid and outstretched.

  3. A cut of meat, often containing a section of a rib.

  4. A small cut of meat including part of a rib

  5. Ocean waves, generally caused by wind, distinguished from swell by being smaller and not lasting as long.

  6. A turn of fortune; change; a vicissitude.

verb

  1. transitive

    To cut into pieces with short, vigorous cutting motions.

  2. transitive

    To sever with an axe or similar implement.

  3. transitive

    To give a downward cutting blow or movement, typically with the side of the hand.

  4. transitivefigurative

    To separate or divide.

  5. Hit sharply

  6. Move suddenly

Word at a Glance

Difficulty
B2 · Upper Intermediate (estimated)
Frequency
Moderately Common
Typical Use
Neutral / general English

Word Aura™

How this word commonly comes across.

Aura for this meaning

This meaning: A blow with an axe, cleaver, or similar implement.

Used this way, chop is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.

Emotional tone
Neutral
Formality
Neutral
Intensity
Not strongly marked
How common
Moderately common
Connotation
Matter-of-fact
Usage feel
Neutral and straightforward

Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.

More ways to use chop

  • “The boat headed into the chop.”noun

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Common Patterns and Combinations

How this word naturally appears with others.

Blow

karate chop

Small

chop whiskers

Other combinations

pork choplamb chopmutton chopchop housechop woodveal chop

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Word Family

Related forms, grouped by how they connect.

Inflected forms

Grammatical variations of the same word.

  • choppernounInflected form

    A grounder that bounces high in the air.

Compound terms

Established multiword terms.

  • chop shotnounCompound term

    A tennis return made with a downward motion that puts backspin on the ball.

  • chop steaknounCompound term

    A patty of ground cooked beef.

  • chop sueynounCompound term

    Meat or fish stir-fried with vegetables (e.g., celery, onions, peppers or bean sprouts) seasoned with ginger and garlic and soy sauce.

  • chop-suey greensnounCompound term

    Grown for its succulent edible leaves used in Asian cooking.

  • chop upverbCompound term

    Cut into pieces.

  • chop offverbCompound term

    Remove by or as if by cutting.

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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.