I. ˈchäp verb
( chopped ; chop·ping )
Etymology: Middle English chappen, choppen — more at chap
Date: 14th century
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 chop s the lake in two
2. : to strike (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 (as an ax)
2. archaic : to move or act suddenly or violently
II. noun
Date: 14th century
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 6
7. chiefly British : ax 3
it is the very top men who have got the chop — Daily Mirror
III. intransitive verb
( chopped ; chop·ping )
Etymology: Middle English chappen, choppen to barter
Date: 1540
1. : to change direction
2. : to veer with or as if with wind
•
- chop logic
IV. noun
Etymology: Hindi chāp & Urdu chhāp stamp
Date: 1614
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