Word
chops
US/ˈtʃɑps/
UK/tʃˈɒps/
Definitions
01meat
A2 · Elementary Plural noun Cooking
n. small pieces of meat, usually including a bone, from a sheep or pig.
n. plural of 'chop'; small cuts of meat, typically from the rib, loin, or shoulder of a pig, lamb, or calf.
“We had grilled lamb chops with vegetables for dinner last night.”
“The chef seasoned the pork chops with a blend of sage and rosemary before searing them to a perfect golden brown.”
Synonyms
02skill or talent
B2 · Upper Intermediate Plural noun Informal
n. a person's ability or skill in a particular activity, especially music.
n. technical proficiency or competence in a specific field, originally referring to a musician's embouchure or dexterity.
“The new drummer really has the chops to play with such a famous band.”
“While he lacked formal training, his natural improvisational chops allowed him to hold his own against veteran jazz performers.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
03mouth or jaws
C1 · Advanced Plural noun Slang
n. a person's mouth, lips, or jaws.
n. the mouth, jaws, or fleshy parts of the face; often used in the context of eating or speaking.
“He was licking his chops as he looked at the delicious chocolate cake.”
“The boxer took a heavy blow to the chops but managed to stay on his feet until the bell rang.”
Usage
Commonly found in the idiom 'licking one's chops' to show anticipation.
04rough water
C2 · Proficiency Plural noun Nautical Technical
n. an area of the sea where the water is very rough and moving in different directions.
n. a stretch of water where meeting tides or winds create a short, irregular, and broken sea state.
“The small boat struggled to stay steady in the heavy chops near the harbour entrance.”
“Navigating the channel required immense concentration due to the unpredictable chops caused by the outgoing tide clashing with the gale-force winds.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“In my first year, one of my flatmates would eat plain pork chops every single day for dinner.” “Nvidia says that with the RTX Spark’s local AI chops, your data stays private and you won’t be burning through tokens to do AI things.” Etymology
From the plural of chop (“jaw, side of a harbour”). The jazz slang sense “musical ability” is a reference to the use of the lips to blow instruments.
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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