Chop /(?)/

imp. & p. p. Chopped; p. pr. & vb. n. Chopping

1. To cut by striking repeatedly with a sharp instrument; to cut into pieces; to mince; -- often with up.
2. To sever or separate by one more blows of a sharp instrument; to divide; -- usually with off or down.

   Chop off your hand, and it to the king.

3. To seize or devour greedily; -- with up. [Obs.]

   Upon the opening of his mouth he drops his breakfast, which the fox presently chopped up.

1. To make a quick strike, or repeated strokes, with an ax or other sharp instrument.
2. To do something suddenly with an unexpected motion; to catch or attempt to seize.

   Out of greediness to get both, he chops at the shadow, and loses the substance.

3. To interrupt; -- with in or out.

   This fellow interrupted the sermon, even suddenly chopping in.

1. To barter or truck.
2. To exchange; substitute one thing for another.

   We go on chopping and changing our friends.

1. To purchase by way of truck.
2. To vary or shift suddenly; as, the wind chops about. (Naut.)
3. To wrangle; to altercate; to bandy words.

   Let not the counsel at the bar chop with the judge.

1. A change; a vicissitude.

1. To crack. See Chap, v. t. & i.

1. The act of chopping; a stroke.
2. A piece chopped off; a slice or small piece, especially of meat; as, a mutton chop.
3. A crack or cleft. See Chap.

1. A jaw of an animal; -- commonly in the pl. See Chops.
2. A movable jaw or cheek, as of a wooden vise.
3. The land at each side of the mouth of a river, harbor, or channel; as, East Chop or West Chop. See Chops.

1. Quality; brand; as, silk of the first chop.
2. A permit or clearance.