chomping


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Related to chomping: chew out

chomp

 (chŏmp)
v. chomped, chomp·ing, chomps
v.tr.
To chew or bite on noisily: a horse chomping oats.
v.intr.
To chew or bite on something repeatedly: chomping on a cigar.
n.
The act or an instance of vigorous biting: "He finished the last of his sandwich with a single chomp" (Anne Tyler).
Idiom:
chomp at the bit
To show impatience at being held back or delayed.

[Variant of champ.]
Usage Note: Historically, to bite down with the teeth was to champ, not to chomp, and someone who was impatient at being held back was said to champ at the bit rather than to chomp at the bit. The version of this idiom using the variant chomp first became popular in the mid-1900s and is now the more common form, but both were rated as broadly acceptable in our 2015 Usage Panel ballot, with 70 percent of the Panel accepting the form with champ and 77 percent accepting the form with chomp.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.chomping - the act of chewing noisilychomping - the act of chewing noisily    
chewing, mastication, chew, manduction - biting and grinding food in your mouth so it becomes soft enough to swallow
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
References in periodicals archive ?
PHIL BURTON says Cammell Laird are 'chomping at the bit' to return to NWCFL First Division South action against Maine Road this afternoon.
This much I could tell from his question: "Which expression is (more?) correct, 'champing at the bit' or 'chomping at the bit?' I have heard/read discussions, arguments for and against each and cannot sort it out."
"He's been chomping at the bit for the last couple of weeks really.
Can I just state for the record that I am not in the I'm A Celeb jungle, chomping on cow teats.
Summary: Two mice were caught on video chomping on cash stashed in the ATM
If you fancy chomping on with a bag of candy floss or impressing with your skills on hook the duck, the fair is a mustvisit.
And while chomping on chocolate eggs, we'll spare a thought for the men and women trying to survive on The Island With Bear Grylls, and also for the plucky teens learning to skate with Torvill and Dean in Ice Rink On The Estate.
Players can keep their candy clean by squishing roaches, as their team of competitive eaters earn points by chomping through sweets.
Wellington, May 23 ( ANI ): Two French bulldogs started a medical emergency after chewing through their owner's prescription pills and chomping on a St John medic alert panic button.
CHOMPING AT THE BIT Barca's Alves responds to abuse in style
People sometimes say "chomping on the bit" not recognising champ as a verb.
I also get angry when people at school start chomping on gum.