choppy

Everyday

1. (of the sea or a lake) Full of small, rough waves, because of wind: «choppy water». tree →
2. (of writing, speech or music) Broken into short, jerky parts that do not flow well. tree →
3. (of hair) Cut in uneven layers on purpose. tree →

In the lessons

In geography, travel and safety, choppy water makes boat trips bumpy and can make people seasick; swimmers and kayakers must take care. In writing lessons, teachers say «Your sentences are choppy — try joining some with «and» or «because»».

Examples

• The sea was too choppy for the ferry to sail. tree →
• We felt seasick on the choppy water. tree →
• The lake got choppy when the wind picked up. tree →
• Your paragraph is a bit choppy; join some sentences together. tree →
• The video was choppy because the internet was slow. tree →
• She has a short, choppy haircut. tree →

Note

Comparatives: choppier, choppiest. Opposites: calm, smooth, flat. Not to do with chopping food, though it comes from «chop».