Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense cuts, present participle cuttinglanguage note: The form cut is used in the present tense and is the past tense and past participle.
1. verb
If you cut something, you use a knife or a similar tool to divide it into pieces, or to markit or damage it. If you cut a shape or a hole in something, you make the shape or hole by using a knife or similartool.
Mrs. Haines stood nearby, holding scissors to cut a ribbon. [VERB noun]
Cut the tomatoes in half vertically. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
The thieves cut a hole in the fence. [VERB noun preposition/adverb]
Mr. Long was now cutting himself a piece of the pink cake. [VERB noun noun]
You can hear the saw as it cuts through the bones. [VERB + through]
...thinly-cut cucumber sandwiches. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: carve, slice More Synonyms of cut
Cut is also a noun.
The operation involves making several cuts in the cornea. [+ in]
2. verb
If you cutyourself or cut a part of your body, you accidentally injure yourself on a sharp object so that youbleed.
Johnson cut himself shaving. [VERB pronoun-reflexive]
I started to cry because I cut my finger. [VERB noun]
Zoe was badly cut as she scrambled down rocks to reach him. [VERB noun]
Blood from his cut lip trickled over his chin. [VERB-ed]
Cut is also a noun.
He had sustained a cut on his left eyebrow. [+ on]
...cuts and bruises.
3. verb
If you cut something such as grass, your hair, or your fingernails, you shorten them using scissors or another tool.
The most recent tenants hadn't even cut the grass. [VERB noun]
You have to learn not to cut your toenails in the living room. [VERB noun]
You've had your hair cut, it looks great. [have noun VERB-ed]
She had dark red hair, cut short. [VERB-ed]
Synonyms: clip, mow, trim, dock More Synonyms of cut
Cut is also a noun.
Prices vary from salon to salon, starting at £17 for a cut and blow-dry.
4. verb [usually passive]
The way that clothes are cut is the way they are designed and made.
...badly-cut blue suits. [VERB-ed]
5. verb
To cut through something means to move or pass through it easily.
I could see long canoes cutting through the waves. [VERBthrough noun]
6. verb
If you cut across or through a place, you go through it because it is the shortest route to another place.
He decided to cut across the Heath, through Greenwich Park. [V + across/through]
7. See also short cut
8. verb
If you cut something, you reduce it.
The first priority is to cut costs. [VERB noun]
The U.N. force is to be cut by 90%. [beVERB-ed + by]
...a deal to cut 50 billion dollars from the federal deficit. [V amount + from/off]
Synonyms: reduce, lower, slim (down), diminish More Synonyms of cut
Cut is also a noun.
The economy needs an immediate 2 per cent cut in interest rates. [+ in]
...the government's plans for tax cuts.
9. verb
If you cut a text, broadcast, or performance, you shorten it. If you cut a part of a text, broadcast, or performance, you do not publish, broadcast, or performthat part.
The audience wants more music and less drama, so we've cut some scenes. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: delete, take out, excise, edit out More Synonyms of cut
Cut is also a noun.
It has been found necessary to make some cuts in the text. [+ in]
10. verb
To cut a supply of something means to stop providing it or stop it being provided.
They used pressure tactics to force them to return, including cutting food and watersupplies. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: stop, suspend, interrupt, discontinue More Synonyms of cut
Cut is also a noun.
The strike had already led to cuts in electricity and water supplies in many areas. [+ in]
11. verb
If you cut a pack of playing cards, you divide it into two.
Place the cards face down on the table and cut them. [VERB noun]
12. convention
When the director of a film says 'cut', they want the actors and the camera crew to stop filming.
13. verb
When a singer or band cuts a CD, they make a recording of their music.
She eventually cut her own album. [VERB noun]
14. verb
When a child cuts a tooth, a new tooth starts to grow through the gum.
Many infants do not cut their first tooth until they are a year old. [VERB noun]
15. verb
If a child cuts classes or cuts school, they do not go to classes or to school when they are supposed to.
[mainly US]
Cutting school more than once in three months is a sign of trouble. [VERB noun]
16. verb
If you tell someone to cut something, you are telling them in an irritated way to stop it.
[mainly US, informal, feelings]
'Cut the euphemisms, Daniel,' Brenda snapped. [VERB noun]
Why don't you just cut the crap and open the door. [VERB noun]
17. countable noun
A cut of meat is a piece or type of meat which is cut in a particular way from the animal,or from a particular part of it.
Use a cheap cut such as spare rib chops.
18. singular noun [oft poss NOUN]
Someone's cut of the profits or winnings from something, especially ones that have been obtained dishonestly, is their share.
[informal]
The lawyers, of course, take their cut of the little guy's winnings. [+ of]
Synonyms: share, piece, slice, percentage More Synonyms of cut
19. countable noun
A cut is a narrow valley which has been cut through a hill so that a road or railroad track can pass through.
[US]regional note: in BRIT, use cutting
20. See also cutting
21.
See a cut above
22.
See cut sb dead
23.
See cut and dried
24.
See to cut loose
25.
See to cut and run
26.
See cut it
27.
See cut and thrust
28.
See to cut both ways
29. to cut something to the bone
30. to cut corners
31. to cut a particular figure
32. to cut the mustard
33. to cut someone to the quick
34. to cut someone down to size
35. to cut a long story short
36. to cut your teeth on something
Phrasal verbs:
See cut across
See cut back
See cut down
See cut in
See cut off
See cut out
See cut up
More Synonyms of cut
cut in British English
(kʌt)
verbWord forms: cuts, cutting or cut
1.
to open up or incise (a person or thing) with a sharp edge or instrument; gash
2.
(of a sharp instrument) to penetrate or incise (a person or thing)
3.
to divide or be divided with or as if with a sharp instrument
cut a slice of bread
4. (intransitive)
to use a sharp-edged instrument or an instrument that cuts
5. (transitive)
to trim or prune by or as if by clipping
to cut hair
6. (transitive)
to reap or mow (a crop, grass, etc)
7. (transitive)
to geld or castrate
8. (transitive; sometimes foll byout)
to make, form, or shape by cutting
to cut a suit
9. (transitive)
to hollow or dig out; excavate
to cut a tunnel through the mountain
10.
to strike (an object) sharply
11. (transitive) sport
to hit (a ball) with a downward slicing stroke so as to impart spin or cause it to fall short
12. cricket
to hit (the ball) to the off side, usually between cover and third man, with a roughly horizontal bat
13.
to hurt or wound the feelings of (a person), esp by malicious speech or action
14. (transitive) informal
to refuse to recognize; snub
15. (transitive) informal
to absent oneself from (an activity, location, etc), esp without permission or in haste
to cut class
16. (transitive)
to abridge, shorten, or edit by excising a part or parts
17. (transitive; often foll bydown)
to lower, reduce, or curtail
to cut losses
18. (transitive)
to dilute or weaken
heroin that was cut with nontoxic elements
19. (transitive)
to dissolve or break up
to cut fat
20. (whenintr, foll by across or through)
to cross or traverse
the footpath cuts through the field
21. (intransitive)
to make a sharp or sudden change in direction; veer
22.
to grow (teeth) through the gums or (of teeth) to appear through the gums
23. (intransitive) cinema
a.
to call a halt to a shooting sequence
b. (foll by to)
to move quickly to another scene
24. cinema
to edit (film)
25. (transitive)
to switch off (a light, car engine, etc)
26. (transitive)
(of a performer, recording company, etc) to make (a record or tape of a song, concert, performance, etc)
27. cards
a.
to divide (the pack) at random into two parts after shuffling
b. (intransitive)
to pick cards from a spread pack to decide dealer, partners, etc
28. (transitive)
to remove (material) from an object by means of a chisel, lathe, etc
29. (transitive)
(of a tool) to bite into (an object)
30. (intransitive)
(of a horse) to injure the leg just above the hoof by a blow from the opposite foot
31. cut a caper
32. cut both ways
33. cut a dash
34. cut a person dead
35. cut a good figure
36. cut a poor figure
37. cut and run
38. cut it
39. cut it fine
40. cut corners
41. cut loose
42. cut no ice
43. cut one's losses
44. cut one's teeth on
adjective
45.
detached, divided, or separated by cutting
46. botany
incised or divided
cut leaves
47.
made, shaped, or fashioned by cutting
48.
reduced or diminished by or as if by cutting
cut prices
49.
gelded or castrated
50.
weakened or diluted
51. British a slang word for drunk
52.
hurt; resentful
53. cut and dried
54. cut lunch
noun
55.
the act of cutting
56.
a stroke or incision made by cutting; gash
57.
a piece or part cut off, esp a section of food cut from the whole
a cut of meat
58.
the edge of anything cut or sliced
59.
a passage, channel, path, etc, cut or hollowed out
60.
an omission or deletion, esp in a text, film, or play
61.
a reduction in price, salary, etc
62.
a decrease in government finance in a particular department or area, usually leading to a reduction of services, staffnumbers, etc
63. short for power cut
64. mainly US and Canadian
a quantity of timber cut during a specific time or operation
65. informal
a portion or share
66. informal
a straw, slip of paper, etc, used in drawing lots
67.
the manner or style in which a thing, esp a garment, is cut; fashion
68.
a. Irish informal
a person's general appearance
I didn't like the cut of him
b. Irish derogatory
a dirty or untidy condition
look at the cut of your suit
69.
a direct route; short cut
70. the US name for block (sense 15)
71. sport
the spin of a cut ball
72. cricket
a stroke made with the bat in a roughly horizontal position
73. cinema
an immediate transition from one shot to the next, brought about by splicing the two shots together
74. informal
an individual piece of music on a record; track
75.
words or an action that hurt another person's feelings
76.
a refusal to recognize an acquaintance; snub
77. informal, mainly US
an unauthorized absence, esp from a school class
78. chemistry
a fraction obtained in distillation, as in oil refining
79.
the metal removed in a single pass of a machine tool
80.
a.
the shape of the teeth of a file
b.
their coarseness or fineness
81. British
a stretch of water, esp a canal
82. a cut above
83. make the cut
84. miss the cut
Word origin
C13: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Norwegian kutte to cut, Icelandic kuti small knife
cut in American English
(kʌt)
verb transitiveWord forms: cut or ˈcutting
1. denoting penetration or incision
a.
to make an opening in as with a sharp-edged instrument; pierce; incise; gash
b.
to pierce, hit sharply, constrict, etc. so as to hurt
c.
to hurt the feelings of
d.
to grow (a new tooth making its way through the gum)
2. denoting separation, removal, or division
a.
to remove or divide into parts with a sharp-edged instrument; sever
b.
to carve (meat)
c.
to cause to fall by severing; fell; hew
d.
to mow or reap with a scythe, sickle, etc.
e.
to pass through or across; intersect; divide
the path cuts the meadow diagonally
f.
a.
to divide (a pack of cards) at random so as to rearrange the pack after the dealer has shuffled or so as to show a card to determine the dealer,partners, etc.
b.
to select (a card) at random from a pack, as by cutting the deck
g.
to castrate; geld
h. Informal
to pretend not to see or know (a person); snub
i. Informal
to stay away from (a school class, etc.) without being excused
j. Informal
to cause to stop operating
cut the engine
k. US, Slang
to stop; discontinue
cut the noise
l. US, Informal
to discharge from a job, release from a sports team, etc.
3. denoting reduction
a.
to make less by or as by severing a part or parts; reduce; lessen; curtail
to cut salaries
b.
to make shorter by severing the ends of (hair, branches, fingernails, etc.); trim;shear; pare
c. US
to dilute (alcohol, etc.)
d.
to dissolve or break up the fat globules of
lye cuts grease
4. denoting performance by incision, etc.
to make, do, form, or decorate by or as by cutting
; specif.,
a.
to make (an opening, clearing, channel, etc.) by incising, drilling, hacking, or excavating
b.
to engrave; inscribe
c.
to type or otherwise mark (a stencil) for mimeographing
d.
to cut cloth so as to form the parts for (a garment)
e. US
to edit (film) by deleting some scenes and assembling others into a desired sequence
f.
to hit, drive, or throw (a ball) so that it spins
g.
to cause (a wheel) to turn sharply
h. US
to make a recording of (a speech, music, etc.) on (a phonograph record)
i.
to shape (a diamond), as by sawing or grinding
verb intransitive
5.
to do the work of a sharp-edged instrument; pierce, sever, gash, etc.
6.
to do cutting; work as a cutter
7.
to take cutting; be severed, etc.
pine cuts easily
8.
to use an instrument that cuts
9.
to cause pain by or as by sharp, piercing, or lashing strokes
the wind cut through his thin clothes
10. Informal
to swing a bat, club, etc. at a ball
11.
to change direction suddenly, as while running
12.
to move swiftly
13. Cinema and Television Etc
a.
to make a sudden change, as from one scene or character to another
b.
to end the filming or taping of a scene, as by shouting a command (cut!) or giving a sign
adjective
14.
that has been cut
15.
made, formed, or decorated by cutting
16.
reduced; lessened
17.
castrated
18. Botany
having an indented edge; incised, as some leaves or petals
noun
19.
a cutting or being cut
20.
a stroke or blow with a sharp-edged instrument, whip, etc.
21.
a. Informal
a swing taken at a ball
b.
spin imparted to a ball, as by hitting the lower side of it
22.
an opening, incision, wound, etc. made by a sharp-edged instrument
23.
a.
the omission of a part
b.
the part omitted
24.
a piece or part cut off or out
; specif.,
a.
any of the segments of the carcass of a meat animal
b.
a slice from such a segment
25.
the edge or outline of something cut
26. US
a.
the amount cut, as of timber
b.
a reduction; lessening; decrease
27.
shortcut
28.
a passage or channel cut or dug out or worn away
29.
the style in which a thing is cut; fashion; form
a stylish cut
30.
an act, remark, etc. that hurts one's feelings
31.
a.
a block or plate engraved for printing, or the impression made from it
b.
a printed picture, as in a newspaper, book, etc.
32.
one of the bits of straw, stick, paper, etc. used in drawing lots to decide something
33. Informal
the act of snubbing or ignoring
34. US, Informal
an unauthorized absence from school, etc.
35. US, Informal
a share, as of profits or loot
36. US, Informal
a band1 (sense 7) on a phonograph record
37. Cinema
a.
a sudden change from one image to another
b.
an assembled version of a movie
a rough cut, final cut, etc.
Idioms:
a cut above
cut across
cut a deal
cut a figure
cut and dried
cut and run
cut back
cut dead
cut down
cut down to size
cut in
cut it
cut it fine
cut it out
cut loose
cut no ice
cut off
cut out
cut short
cut one's teeth on
cut through
cut to the chase
cut up
make the cut
Word origin
ME cutten, kytten < Late OE *cyttan < Scand base seen in Swed dial., Ice kuta, to cut with a knife: the word replaced OE ceorfan (see carve), snithan, scieran (see shear) as used in its basic senses; (sense 32) < ? Welsh cwt, lot
More idioms containing
cut
cut the ground from under someone
cut it fine
cut someone dead
cut a dash
someone cannot cut it
not be cut out for something
the cut and thrust
cut and run
cut and dried
a cut above the rest
cut corners
cut the umbilical cord
cut your coat according to your cloth
cut from the same cloth
cut to the chase
cut the Gordian knot
cut something to the bone
fish or cut bait
you could cut the atmosphere with a knife
cut off your nose to spite your face
cut someone to the quick
cut up rough
cut loose
cut someone down to size
cut someone some slack
cut your losses
to cut a long story short
cut your teeth doing something
cut your own throat
cut both ways
have your work cut out
not cut the mustard
Examples of 'cut' in a sentence
cut
April is also the time to think about cutting them back.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
The notion of rearranging the cut pieces to save slices is not crazy.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And his ancestors turn out to be a cut above what he expected.
The Sun (2016)
Or maybe he was sending a signal that he wanted no more cuts.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Some councils have removed litter bins to save money after government cuts to their budgets.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Failing units could be closed and the trust could make considerable staff cuts.
Computing (2010)
They will survive a mild winter outdoors and then need cutting back.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Will the Government now stop the cuts in disability benefits?
The Sun (2016)
PLAYING tennis can cut the chances of dying young by nearly half.
The Sun (2016)
The rebels continued to lose ground in the centre of the city yesterday, and risked having their enclave to the north cut in two.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Others simply want to cut their exposure to chemicals.
The Sun (2013)
Making a balance transfer to a cheaper card to cut the interest would help too.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
You had to have most of your hair cut off for the role.
The Sun (2012)
What he had finally proved was that he could cut it in another sport.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Use a sharp knife to cut out their cores and slip off their skins.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Peel off the film and cut the honeycomb into shards with a sharp knife.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Another way is just to make sure you cut back hard enough in spring.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The text is cut down to two hours.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Not so much hair as a crew cut.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
There will also be job cuts at the group as the board looks to reduce costs.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The council is funding the cameras by cutting back on office costs and speed awareness courses.
The Sun (2011)
Might we have to take a wage cut because our employer is in trouble?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
She looks a cut above this lot.
The Sun (2014)
Campaigners claimed government budget cuts were to blame.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The game has an overload of cut scenes which stop the flow.
The Sun (2009)
You cannot raise taxes and cut spending without hurting growth.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The men had cut through part of the roof of the truck to clamber in.
The Sun (2009)
People want to hear about cutting council tax or bringing down crime.
The Sun (2013)
The cost of cutting the grass and keeping the woodland under control?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The meat has been cut and left to mature in a vacuum pack.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
His opening round of 76 left him at four over par and in danger of missing another cut.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Lighting up in public places was outlawed in 2007 and a cut in passive smoking is said to have brought the huge drop in heart disease.
The Sun (2016)
Word lists with
cut
terms used in cards
In other languages
cut
British English: cut /kʌt/ NOUN
A cut is a place on your skin where something sharp has gone through it.
He had a cut on his cheek.
American English: cut
Arabic: جُرْح
Brazilian Portuguese: corte
Chinese: 切口
Croatian: rez
Czech: říznutí
Danish: rift
Dutch: snee
European Spanish: corte
Finnish: leikkaus
French: coupure
German: Schnitt
Greek: κόψιμο
Italian: taglio
Japanese: 切断
Korean: 자른 부분
Norwegian: kutt
Polish: cięcie
European Portuguese: corte
Romanian: tăietură
Russian: порез
Latin American Spanish: corte
Swedish: skärsår
Thai: บาดแผล
Turkish: kesme
Ukrainian: поріз
Vietnamese: vết cắt
British English: cut /kʌt/ VERB
chop or slice If you cut something, you use a knife or scissors to divide it into pieces.
We cut the cake.
You can hear the saw as it cuts through the wood.
American English: cut
Arabic: يُقَطِّعُ
Brazilian Portuguese: cortar
Chinese: 切
Croatian: sjeći
Czech: řezat
Danish: skære
Dutch: snijden
European Spanish: cortar
Finnish: leikata
French: couper
German: schneiden
Greek: κόβω
Italian: tagliare
Japanese: 切る
Korean: 자르다
Norwegian: skjære
Polish: uciąć
European Portuguese: cortar
Romanian: a tăia
Russian: резать
Latin American Spanish: cortar
Swedish: skära
Thai: ตัด
Turkish: kesmek
Ukrainian: різати
Vietnamese: cắt
British English: cut /kʌt/ VERB
yourself If you cut yourself, something sharp goes through your skin and blood comes out.
Don't cut yourself on the broken glass.
American English: cut
Arabic: يَقْطَعُ
Brazilian Portuguese: cortar
Chinese: 割伤
Croatian: porezati se
Czech: říznout se
Danish: skære
Dutch: snijden
European Spanish: cortarse
Finnish: leikata
French: se couper
German: sich schneiden
Greek: κόβομαι
Italian: tagliare
Japanese: 切ってけがをする
Korean: 자르다
Norwegian: kutte
Polish: skaleczyć się
European Portuguese: cortar
Romanian: a se tăia
Russian: порезаться
Latin American Spanish: cortarselastimarse
Swedish: skära
Thai: บาด ทำให้บาด
Turkish: kesmek
Ukrainian: порізатися
Vietnamese: cắt trúng tay
All related terms of 'cut'
precut
any precut item
price cut
a reduction in the price of a good or service
cut in
If you cut in on someone, you interrupt them when they are speaking.
cut it
If you say that someone can't cut it , you mean that they do not have the qualities needed to do a task or cope with a situation .
cut up
If you cut something up , you cut it into several pieces.
cut off
If you cut something off , you remove it with a knife or a similar tool .
cut out
If you cut something out , you remove or separate it from what surrounds it using scissors or a knife .
low-cut
Low-cut dresses and blouses do not cover the top part of a woman's chest.
pay cut
a decrease in pay or salary
tax cut
a reduction made by the government in the amount of tax that people pay
boot-cut
(of trousers ) slightly flared at the bottom of the legs
brush cut
→ crew cut
buzz cut
a close-cut haircut , carried out with an electric razor
clean-cut
A man or boy who is clean-cut has a neat, tidy appearance.
clear-cut
Something that is clear-cut is easy to recognize and quite distinct .
crew cut
A crew cut is a hairstyle in which the hair is cut very short .
cut along
to hurry off
cut back
If you cut back something such as expenditure or cut back on it, you reduce it.
cut dead
to snub completely
cut down
If you cut down on something or cut down something, you use or do less of it.
cut glass
Cut glass is glass that has patterns cut into its surface.
cut-grass
any grass (esp. Leersia oryzoides ) having tiny hooks along the edges of the blades that cause scratches on the human skin
cut loose
to become free from the influence or authority of other people
cut lunch
a sandwich lunch carried from home to work, school , etc
cut-offs
Cut-offs are short pants made by cutting part of the legs off old pants.
cut-price
Cut-price goods or services are cheaper than usual .
cut-rate
Cut-rate goods or services are cheaper than usual .
cut short
to stop abruptly before the end
cut time
→ alla breve
final cut
the final edited version of a film, approved by the director and producer
fine-cut
(of tobacco ) finely cut or shredded
half-cut
partially severed or divided
jump cut
a break in continuity in the normal sequence of shots
navy cut
tobacco finely cut from a block
open cut
an excavation made in the open rather than in a tunnel
power cut
A power cut is a period of time when the electricity supply to a particular building or area is stopped , sometimes deliberately.
razor cut
a fluffy hairstyle , usually tapering at the neck , trimmed by a razor
ready-cut
(of wood, tiles , glass , etc) cut to size before being sold
rose-cut
(of a gemstone ) cut with a hemispherical faceted crown and a flat base
rough-cut
a first edited version of a film with the scenes in sequence and the soundtrack synchronized
short cut
A short cut is a quicker way of getting somewhere than the usual route.
step cut
a cut consisting of a rectangular girdle , often faceted , with two or more tiers of narrow facets running parallel to the girdle on both the crown and the pavilion : used esp. in stones in which color is more important than brilliance
water cut
The water cut is the ratio of the water which is produced in a well compared to the volume of the total liquids produced.
bastard cut
(of a file ) having medium teeth ; intermediate between a coarse cut and a fine cut
bikini cut
a horizontal surgical incision in the lower abdomen , often used for a hysterectomy or a Cesarean delivery , so called because it leaves a less noticeable scar than does a vertical incision
branch cut
a method for selecting a single-valued function on a subset of the domain of a multiple-valued function of a complex variable
crinkle-cut
(of chips or crisps ) having a striated or furrowed surface
Culebra Cut
the SE section of the Panama Canal , cut through Culebra Mountain . Length: about 13 km (8 miles)
cut across
If an issue or problem cuts across the division between two or more groups of people, it affects or matters to people in all the groups.
cut corners
to save time, money or effort by not following the correct procedure or rules for doing something