DEF: 1. To cut something into piece with an axe, knife, cleaver. 2. To break something with the edge of your hand (martial art). 3. To cut something off.
EX:
He chops the onion into small cubes.
He is chopping firewood to prepare for his fireplace.
A karate chop is made by using the part of the hand opposite the thumb to strike down, like a knife.
There are too many trees in the yard, we need to chop down some of them.
He is on the chopping block (about to be fired) because he is not doing his job well.
Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
chop (verb)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 chops the lake in two
2.
to strike (as a ball) with a short quick downward stroke
3.
intransitive verb
to subject to the action of a - chopper chop a beam of light
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
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 up - chopped
5.
a) a short abrupt motion (as of a wave)
b) a stretch of sea - choppy
6.
- chopper
7.
chiefly British - ax it is the very top men who have got the chop Daily Mirror
intransitive verb
1.
to change direction
2.
to veer with or as if with wind
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
