Cleaver: meaning, definitions and examples

A cleaver is a broad-bladed knife used primarily for cutting through meat and bone. It can be used in both kitchen and butchery settings.

• The chef used a cleaver to chop through the chicken bones.
• Every butcher has a good cleaver for cutting large pieces of meat.

A butcher knife is a large, broad-bladed knife used for hacking through meat and bones in a butchery setting. It is more general than a cleaver and can be used for a variety of tasks.

• The butcher knife is essential for preparing large cuts of meat.
• He sharpened his butcher knife before cutting through the ribs.

A chopper is a versatile knife that can be used for both heavy-duty chopping tasks and finer cutting. It is often an informal term that can refer to any heavy knife used for chopping.

• The chopper in the kitchen made quick work of the vegetables.
• For breaking down large pieces of meat, a chopper is very handy.

A meat cleaver specifically refers to a large knife with a rectangular blade used for cutting through meat and bones. It is essentially the same as a cleaver but emphasizes its use with meat.

• She used a meat cleaver to cut through the thick pork shoulder.
• The meat cleaver is perfect for separating ribs from the spine.