WordLens

chop

1 of 2verb
/tʃɑp/
Forms:chops,chopping,chopped,chopped
1

to cut something into pieces using a knife, etc.

B2transitive
  • She chops vegetables for the stir-fry every evening.
  • The chef chops garlic finely to enhance the flavor of the dish.
  • The butcher is chopping meat to fulfill customer orders.
  • The kitchen staff has chopped ingredients for today's lunch service.
  • Last night, she chopped herbs for the marinade.
Synonyms:
chop up
2

to use repeated, forceful strikes with an axe or another implement to sever the base of a tree or similar plant

transitive
  • The forestry team worked together to chop the large pine trees, clearing the area for a new road.
  • They hired a professional tree surgeon to chop the diseased tree, preventing its further spread.
  • The sound of axes echoed through the forest as the loggers chopped the old-growth trees.
  • The pioneers relied on their ability to chop trees to build their log cabins in the new settlement.
3

to deliver a short, forceful blow to something

transitive
  • The golfer's swing went awry, and he ended up chopping the ball into the nearby rough.
  • The badminton player's overhead smash was mistimed, and she ended up chopping the shuttlecock into the net.
  • With a mishit, the tennis player chopped the ball into the net, losing the point.
  • The hockey player attempted a slap shot, but he ended up chopping the puck high and wide of the net.
4

to create or shape something using chopping or cutting actions

transitive
  • The carpenter used a chisel to chop a groove into the wooden plank.
  • The sculptor carefully chopped a face out of the block of stone.
  • The blacksmith expertly chopped a keyway into the metal rod.
  • The ice sculptor used a chainsaw to chop a swan out of the ice block.
  • The jeweler carefully chopped a channel into the gold band for the gemstones.
5

to move with sudden, sharp, or forceful motions

  • The helicopter blades began to chop through the air as it took off from the landing pad.
  • The boxer's quick punches chopped through the air, landing solidly on his opponent.
  • The car's tires screeched as it chopped around the corner at high speed.
  • The dancer's feet chopped across the stage, executing swift and precise movements.