Chopping

/ˈtʃɒpɪŋ/

verbBeginner📊CommonGeneral
1 meaning1 idiom/phrase1 question

Definitions

1

To cut into small pieces with a sharp instrument, usually repeatedly.

/ˈtʃɒpɪŋ/

verbneutralBeginner
General

Cutting into pieces with repeated blows.

He was chopping onions for the salad.

💡 Simply: It's like hitting something with a sharp tool to cut it into smaller bits. Think of a chef chopping onions for soup!

👶 For kids: Cutting something into small pieces with a knife.

More Examples

2

The woodcutter spent the morning chopping wood.

How It's Used

Cooking

"She was chopping vegetables for the stew."

Woodworking

"The carpenter was chopping wood for the fire."

Synonyms & Antonyms

Antonyms

Idioms & expressions

chop and change

To frequently change plans or decisions.

"They kept chopping and changing their minds about the project."

From Middle English *choppen, from Old English *cieppan, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch kappen and German hacken.

The word 'chopping' has been used in English since at least the Middle English period, primarily relating to cutting wood.

Memory tip

Imagine a chef chopping vegetables quickly with a sharp knife.

Word Origin

Original meaning

"to cut"

chopping boardfinely choppingroughly chopping

Common misspellings

chopingchoppin

Usage

60%Spoken
40%Written