chopping
Knife work, repeated
Chopping is cutting something into pieces with repeated sharp blows, typically using a knife or axe: chopping onions, chopping wood.
The word emphasizes the forceful, rhythmic motion rather than precision.
Choppy water has short, irregular waves—as if the surface were being struck repeatedly.
A chopping block is where butchers cut meat or, figuratively, where jobs and budgets get eliminated.
Affectedly delicate in manner
- julienneCut into thin strips
- chiffonadeThin-sliced leaf ribbons
- cubingRaising to third power
- dicingCutting into cubes
shredding · grating · prep · vegetables · onions · garlic · herbs · scallions
Bladed tool for chopping
- firewoodCut logs for burning
- kindlingMaterial for starting fires
- logsCut wood sections
- splittingDividing into parts
sawdust · timber · hardwood · softwood · stump · block · hatchet · maul
Requiring considerable effort
- gruelingExtremely tiring and demanding
- arduousDemanding strenuous effort
- backbreakingExtremely physically demanding
- strenuousRequiring intense exertion
tiring · exhausting · toil · taxing · demanding · repetitive · sweat · physical
Edged carving implement
- malletSoft-headed striking tool
- gougeConcave carving blade
- sculptureShaped three-dimensional art
- marbleRecrystallized limestone rock
granite · alabaster · stonemasonry · woodcarving · relief · inlay · whittling · sculptor
Having regular tempo
- repetitiveMarked by recurrence
- beatRhythmic pulse or strike
- cadenceRhythmic pulse or pattern
- tempoRate of musical performance
swing · downstroke · force · impact · striking · hacking · pounding · percussion
mincing
Affectedly delicate in manner
- julienneCut into thin strips
- chiffonadeThin-sliced leaf ribbons
- cubingRaising to third power
dicing · shredding · grating · prep · vegetables · onions · garlic · herbs · scallions · celery
axe
Bladed tool for chopping
splitting · sawdust · timber · hardwood · softwood · stump · block · hatchet · maul · cordwood
laborious
Requiring considerable effort
- gruelingExtremely tiring and demanding
- arduousDemanding strenuous effort
- backbreakingExtremely physically demanding
strenuous · tiring · exhausting · toil · taxing · demanding · repetitive · sweat · physical · exertion
chisel
Edged carving implement
marble · granite · alabaster · stonemasonry · woodcarving · relief · inlay · whittling · sculptor · engraving
rhythmic
Having regular tempo
- repetitiveMarked by recurrence
- beatRhythmic pulse or strike
- cadenceRhythmic pulse or pattern
tempo · swing · downstroke · force · impact · striking · hacking · pounding · percussion · momentum
sever
Cut apart completely
dismember · cleave · lop · hew · slash · cut-off · remove · prune · trim · shorten
- food prepslicing, dicing, mincing, peeling, grating
- food processingcanning, freezing, drying, packaging, pasteurization
- cuttingslicing, slice, dice, dicing, mincing
- homemakingcooking, cleaning, laundry, recipes, baking
- kitchen prepdicing, slicing, mincing, peeling, washing
- Kitchen Tasksmixing, baking, roasting, frying, grilling
- chopping blockSurface for cutting meat
- chopping upCutting into pieces
- chopping boardSurface for slicing food
- chopping vegetablesCutting food into pieces
- chopping it upTalking casually together
- wooden chopping boardsLumber surfaces for food prep