Chops

Noun

noun

1. Plural of chop
2. (plurale tantum) The mouth, jaws or jowl.
3. (plurale tantum, music, informal) A wind instrument player's embouchure.
4. (plurale tantum, informal, chiefly music) One's skill at musical interpretation and delivery; musical performance ability. 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. (plurale tantum, informal) One's skill at any endeavor.Although he did not know all of the ins and outs of the newsroom, he had the writing chops to become a regular contributor.
6. (plurale tantum, nautical) The area where two tides meet and cause an irregular (choppy) sea.
7. (plurale tantum, juggling) A pattern that involves carrying the object with the hand over the next object before throwing it.

Derived terms

• juggling reverse chops

Verb

1. chops

   (third-person singular of chop)
   He chops wood all day.