cho|les|ter|ol /kəle stərɒl, [AM ] -rɔːl/ N‑UNCOUNT Cholesterol is a substance that exists in the fat, tissues, and blood of all animals. Too much cholesterol in a person's blood can cause heart disease. □ …a dangerously high cholesterol level.
chomp /tʃɒ mp/ (chomps , chomping , chomped )
1 VERB If a person or animal chomps their way through food or chomps on food, they chew it noisily. [INFORMAL ] □ [V + way through ] I would chomp my way through breakfast, even though I'm not hungry. □ [V prep/adv] I lost a tooth while chomping on a French baguette! [Also V n]
2 to chomp at the bit → see bit
choose ◆◆◇ /tʃuː z/ (chooses , choosing , chose , chosen )
1 VERB If you choose someone or something from several people or things that are available, you decide which person or thing you want to have. □ [V n] They will be able to choose their own leaders in democratic elections. □ [V n to-inf] …citizens who had chosen that weekend to begin their holiday. □ [V + from/between ] There are several patchwork cushions to choose from. □ [be V -ed + as ] Houston was chosen as the site for the convention. □ [V -ed] He did well in his chosen profession. [Also V n + as , V ]
2 VERB If you choose to do something, you do it because you want to or because you feel that it is right. □ [V to-inf] They knew that discrimination was going on, but chose to ignore it. □ [V ] You can just take out the interest each year, if you choose.
3 PHRASE If there is little to choose between people or things or nothing to choose between them, it is difficult to decide which is better or more suitable. [mainly BRIT ] □ There is very little to choose between the world's top tennis players.
4 PHRASE The chosen few are a small group who are treated better than other people. You sometimes use this expression when you think this is unfair. □ Learning should no longer be an elitist pastime for the chosen few.
5 to pick and choose → see pick
choosy /tʃuː zi/ ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] Someone who is choosy is difficult to please because they will only accept something if it is exactly what they want or if it is of very high quality. [mainly INFORMAL ] □ [+ about ] Skiers should be particularly choosy about the insurance policy they buy.
chop ◆◇◇ /tʃɒ p/ (chops , chopping , chopped )
1 VERB If you chop something, you cut it into pieces with strong downward movements of a knife or an axe. □ [V n + into ] Chop the butter into small pieces. □ [V n] Visitors were set to work chopping wood. □ [V -ed] …chopped tomatoes.
2 N‑COUNT [usu n N ] A chop is a small piece of meat cut from the ribs of a sheep or pig. □ …grilled lamb chops.
3 PHRASE When people chop and change , they keep changing their minds about what to do or how to act. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ Don't ask me why they have chopped and changed so much.
4 PHRASE If something is for the chop or is going to get the chop , it is going to be stopped or closed. If someone is for the chop , they are going to lose their job or position. [BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ He won't say which programmes are for the chop.
▸ chop down PHRASAL VERB If you chop down a tree, you cut through its trunk with an axe so that it falls to the ground. □ [V P n] Sometimes they have to chop down a tree for firewood. [Also V n P ]
▸ chop off PHRASAL VERB To chop off something such as a part of someone's body means to cut it off. □ [V P n] She chopped off her golden, waist-length hair. □ [V n P ] They dragged him to the village square and chopped his head off.
▸ chop up PHRASAL VERB If you chop something up , you chop it into small pieces. □ [V P n] Chop up three firm tomatoes. □ [V -ed P ] …chopped up banana. SYNONYMS chop VERB 1
cut: Cut the tomatoes in half vertically.
felclass="underline" Badly infected trees should be felled and burned.
slash: He came within two minutes of bleeding to death after slashing his wrists.
hack: We undertook the task of hacking our way through the jungle.
chop|per /tʃɒ pə r / (choppers ) N‑COUNT A chopper is a helicopter. [INFORMAL ] □ Overhead, the chopper roared and the big blades churned the air.
cho p|ping board (chopping boards ) N‑COUNT A chopping board is a wooden or plastic board that you chop meat and vegetables on. [BRIT ] in AM, usually use cutting board
chop|py /tʃɒ pi/ (choppier , choppiest ) ADJ When water is choppy , there are a lot of small waves on it because there is a wind blowing. □ A gale was blowing and the sea was choppy.
chop|stick /tʃɒ pst I k/ (chopsticks ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Chopsticks are a pair of thin sticks which people in China and the Far East use to eat their food.
chop suey /tʃɒ p suː i/ N‑UNCOUNT Chop suey is a Chinese-style dish that consists of meat and vegetables that have been stewed together.
cho|ral /kɔː rəl/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Choral music is sung by a choir. □ His collection of choral music from around the world is called 'Voices'.
cho|rale /kɔːrɑː l, -ræ l/ (chorales )
1 N‑COUNT A chorale is a piece of music sung as part of a church service. □ …a Bach chorale.
2 N‑COUNT A chorale is a group of people who sing together. [AM ]