What does "chops" mean?
plural of chop
Chops
/t͡ʃɑps/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: plural of chop
- Grammar: chops is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: ability, bazoo, break, chaps.
- Useful contrasts: assemble, cultivate, expand.
- Usage evidence: Two of the school jazz band's superstars, both white, bickered over whose chops were the "blackest."
How to use "chops"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "chops" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "chops" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "chops" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "chops" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "chops" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "ability" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "chops", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 plural of chop form-of, plural, plural-only
- 2 plural of CHOP form-of, plural
- 3 Jaws, lips, mouth. plural, plural-only, slang
"[…]who knows but ſome fine lady of St. James's pariſh might admit into her delicate mouth thoſe very cherries, which had been rolled and moiſtened between the filthy, and, perhaps, ulcerated chops of a St. Giles's huckſter[…]"
- 4 One's skill at musical interpretation and delivery; musical performance ability. plural, plural-only
"Although the bass player had no experience playing in New Orleans, the crowd's enthusiastic response showed that he had the chops to make it in the very particular Crescent City jazz scene."
- 5 One's skill at any endeavor; ability, talent; competency. broadly, informal, plural, plural-only
"Although he did not know all of the ins and outs of the newsroom, he had the writing chops to become a regular contributor."
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 The area where two tides meet and cause an irregular (choppy) sea. plural, plural-only
- 7 A pattern that involves carrying the object with the hand over the next object before throwing it. plural, plural-only
- 8 Food. Australia, Nigeria, plural, plural-only, slang
Verb
- 1 third-person singular simple present indicative of chop form-of, indicative, present, singular, third-person
"He chops wood all day."
- 2 Alternative form of chopse. alt-of, alternative
Example
"Two of the school jazz band's superstars, both white, bickered over whose chops were the "blackest.""
Common questions
What is a synonym for "chops"?
Common synonyms include: ability, bazoo, break, chaps, clear, cleave.
How do you use "chops" in a sentence?
Two of the school jazz band's superstars, both white, bickered over whose chops were the "blackest."
How do you pronounce "chops"?
Pronounced /t͡ʃɑps/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
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.
Etymology 2
See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.