noun
Common
chuck
chuhk
Chuck (noun) means a cut of beef from the shoulder area, or the meat itself. Example: “Chuck makes a rich, tender casserole when cooked slowly for hours.”
noun
1
A cut of beef from the shoulder area, or the meat itself.
"Chuck makes a rich, tender casserole when cooked slowly for hours."
"The butcher recommended chuck for the burgers because it has plenty of flavour."
"She browned the chuck for the stew."
2
A device that grips a drill bit, workpiece, or similar object firmly in place.
"The carpenter tightened the chuck until the wood no longer wobbled."
"A drill chuck can wear out if you overtighten it too often."
"Loosen the chuck to swap out the drill bit."
verb
1
Informal: to throw something, often carelessly.
"Chuck me that towel, would you? I'm dripping wet."
"He chucked the ball across the yard to the dog."
"Just chuck your coat on the chair, it's fine."
2
Informal: to discard or throw something away.
"I'm going to chuck these broken headphones in the bin."
"She chucked the mouldy bread into the compost heap."
"You can chuck those old newspapers in the recycling."
3
Informal, British: to end a relationship with someone; to dump.
"He chucked me by text message, which hurt more than anything."
"After two years together, she finally chucked him and moved to London."
"She chucked her boyfriend after finding out he'd lied."
How to use chuck
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo throw something casually, to throw something away, or (British informal) to end a relationship — also a cut of beef and a tool part.
When to use it
The verb senses are informal/conversational, common in British English.
Common pairings
chuck it out
chuck a ball
chuck someone
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Word forms
- Plural
- chucks
- Third person singular
- chucks
- Past tense
- chucked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ makes a rich, tender casserole when cooked slowly for hours.
Etymology
A variant of chock, originally meaning a block or wedge, which developed into both the drill-holding device and the meat cut.
Related words
Rhymes for chuck
See all rhymes for chuck →Frequently asked questions
What does “chuck” mean?
The word “chuck” means a cut of beef from the shoulder area, or the meat itself. In plain terms, to throw something casually, to throw something away, or (British informal) to end a relationship — also a cut of beef and a tool part.
How do you pronounce “chuck”?
“Chuck” is pronounced chuhk (/t͡ʃʌk/ in IPA).
How do you use “chuck” in a sentence?
Here is “chuck” used in a sentence: “She browned the chuck for the stew.”
What is another word for “chuck”?
Words with a similar meaning to “chuck” include chuckie, chucky, chuckstone and chuckiestone.
What part of speech is “chuck”?
Depending on how it is used, “chuck” can be a noun and a verb.
Is “chuck” a common word?
“Chuck” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “chuck” have?
“Chuck” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a cut of beef from the shoulder area, or the meat itself.
What is the difference between chuck roast and chuck steak?
Both come from the chuck, the shoulder area of beef. Chuck roast is a larger, thicker cut suited to slow cooking such as braising or pot-roasting, while chuck steak is cut thinner from the same region and is more often grilled or pan-fried.
What is a chuck on a drill?
On a drill, the chuck is the device at the front that grips and holds the drill bit firmly in place. Tightening the chuck clamps its jaws around the bit so it turns with the drill; loosening it lets you change bits.
What is the difference between beef chuck and brisket?
Chuck is taken from the shoulder of the animal, while brisket comes from the lower chest. Both are tougher cuts best cooked slowly, but chuck tends to be well-marbled and good for pot roast and ground beef, whereas brisket is leaner and prized for barbecue and corned beef.
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