crosscut

1 of 3

verb

cross·​cut ˈkrȯs-ˌkət How to pronounce crosscut (audio)
-ˈkət
crosscut; crosscutting; crosscuts

transitive verb

1
: to cut, go, or move across or through
2
: to cut with a crosscut saw
3
: to subject (something, such as movie scenes) to crosscutting

crosscut

2 of 3

adjective

1
: made or used for cutting transversely
a saw with crosscut teeth
2
: cut across or transversely
a crosscut incision

crosscut

3 of 3

noun

cross·​cut ˈkrȯs-ˌkət How to pronounce crosscut (audio)
1
: something that cuts across or through
specifically : a mine working driven horizontally and at right angles to an adit, drift, or level
2
3
4
: an instance of crosscutting (as in a movie)

Examples of crosscut in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Clamp these pieces together edge-to-edge, and crosscut them again with the track saw to produce two 8-inch pieces that form the ends of the box and two 24 inch pieces that form the top and the bottom panels. Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 5 Jan. 2023 Stack two of the 11¾-inch rips and crosscut them to 33 inches long (photo 2). Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 24 Jan. 2023 Next, crosscut the parts to the dimensions shown in the drawing. Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 29 July 2022 First, crosscut the 8-ft-long strip into two 32 1/8-inch long pieces. Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 5 Jan. 2023 The divide between conservatives and progressives is crosscut by those who want the courts to retain their authority over constitutional meaning and those who do not. Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2023 The scene is crosscut with Alicent copulating with the King—disinterestedly and out of duty. Josh St. Clair, Men's Health, 12 Sep. 2022 Rip and crosscut the plywood back to fit the space between the rabbets and match the case length. Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 26 Sep. 2020 His Mickey is pleasantly mumbly, with a hangdog mien that’s often crosscut with a don’t-underestimate-me swagger. Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 16 May 2022
Adjective
The cut is optimal for long braising and will stay intact better than crosscut (flanken-style) ribs. Inés Anguiano, Bon Appétit, 13 Feb. 2024 Kinsey made portraits of lumberjacks posing with crosscut saws and reclining in crevasses carved into the trunks of massive firs. Nicole Rudick, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2023 Or support both sides of the lumber (the piece that is being cut and the piece that is being cut off) on a crosscut guide specifically designed to prevent pinching. Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 10 Aug. 2023 Newer to the game is the sliding miter saw, with a blade assembly that not only chops straight down but also slides horizontally on smooth rails, increasing the tool’s crosscut capacity. Alex Rennie, Popular Mechanics, 27 July 2023 The best way to do this is with a crosscut sled on your table saw, which is my preferred method. Jean Levasseur, Popular Science, 21 Mar. 2023 No detail has been overlooked in the home’s design process; the residence features crosscut Navona travertine walls, Silver Romano Classico travertine flooring and a sculptural black-marble staircase. Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 12 Mar. 2023 Number of teeth: 140 | Purpose: Rip and crosscut plywood, door skins, veneers and vinyl siding. Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 1 Apr. 2020 In Cornel Wilde’s No Blade of Grass (1970), news footage of starving Chinese, riots in India, and skeletal babies—Third World Problems—is crosscut with a heaping banquet in London. Ed Park, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2020
Noun
The 6-foot crosscut saw wobbled precariously with each step, but Fobert wouldn’t have to walk much farther. Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 18 Aug. 2022 Hudson and Brandon each take an end of a crosscut saw and get to work felling a tree. Philip Ellis, Men's Health, 13 Aug. 2023 Unlock the depth control lever and adjust the saw’s shoe to expose no more than enough blade to safely make a crosscut. Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 10 Aug. 2023 Miter saws perform crosscuts, in which the cut goes across the grain of a piece of lumber. Alex Rennie, Popular Mechanics, 27 July 2023 The resulting rip or crosscut is table saw-accurate. Alex Rennie, Popular Mechanics, 26 June 2023 Her understanding of slow-motion — suspending movement for deeper visual appreciation, especially in the gymnastic bar sequence and the rings exhibition that goes from a European to Asian skilled experts — is cinema’s first real technical advance since D. W. Griffith invented the crosscut. Kyle Smith, National Review, 6 Aug. 2021 The inside of the collar features a two-person crosscut saw, which the club said is a symbol for teamwork. oregonlive, 15 Feb. 2023 Alissa excels in ax throwing, log pushing and crosscut sawing, and is the only person to have rolled a log across the Mississippi River. Andrew Van Dam, Washington Post, 6 Jan. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'crosscut.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1645, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1789, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of crosscut was in 1590

Dictionary Entries Near crosscut

Cite this Entry

“Crosscut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crosscut. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

crosscut

1 of 3 verb
cross·​cut ˈkrȯ-ˌskət How to pronounce crosscut (audio)
-ˈskət
crosscut; crosscutting
: to cut or saw across the grain of wood

crosscut

2 of 3 adjective
1
: made or used for cutting across the grain of wood
a crosscut saw
2
: cut across
a crosscut incision

crosscut

3 of 3 noun
cross·​cut ˈkrȯ-ˌskət How to pronounce crosscut (audio)
1
: something that cuts across or through
2
: a crosscut saw

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