Chop

Part of speech: verb, noun

Pronunciation: /t͡ʃɒp/

Definitions

1. To strike with a heavy, downward cutting motion using an edged instrument ; to lessen or curtail the extent or quantity of something by slicing ; to abruptly intervene in the flow of events or conversation
2. To cut or divide something by a quick, forceful hack or stroke with a sharp blade ; to reduce or shorten something significantly ; to interrupt or disrupt a process or action suddenly
3. To sever or split an object with a swift, sharp blow from a knife or axe ; to decrease in amount or duration by cutting off a portion ; to break into or interfere with a sequence or discussion abruptly

Etymology: The verb "chop" to cut with a blade has uncertain roots. Middle English had "choppen" and "chappen" meaning to chop, and the word may be onomatopoeic, imitating the sound of a blow, though its ties to "chap," meaning to become cracked, are also possible. Its Germanic relatives include Dutch "kappen" and German "kappen," both meaning to cut or clip, and the Scots "chap" shares the sense of striking or cutting. Two other English senses look like they came from separate sources. The noun meaning a jaw or cheek, as in "chops," comes from Middle English "choppe," which seems linked to "chap." A different noun, meaning a stamp or seal, was borrowed from Hindi "chāp," and the closely related Malay "cap" probably reinforced its use in the Malay world. Many English readers would not expect a word for a butcher's cut to share ancestry with a word for a royal seal. The short form of "chopper" also shows how speakers trimmed familiar words into quick, punchy ones.

Synonyms: cut, slice, dice, hack, sever

Antonyms: join, connect, attach, combine, merge