transitive verb1 a: to penetrate with or as if with an edged instrument b: to hurt the feelings of c: to strike sharply with a cutting effect d: to strike (a ball) with a glancing blow that imparts a reverse spin e: to experience the growth of (a tooth) through the gum 2 a:trim, pare<cut one's nails>b: to shorten by omissions <cut the manuscript>c:dilute, adulterate<cut the whiskey with water>d: to reduce in amount <cut costs> 3 a:mow, reap<cut hay>b (1): to divide into parts with an edged tool <cut bread>(2):fell, hewc (1): to separate or discharge from an organization <cut them from the team>(2): to single out and isolate <cut a calf out from the herd>d: to turn (as a steering wheel) sharply <the driver cut the wheel hard>e: to go or pass around or about :bypass<cut the checkout line> 4 a: to divide into segments <cut the cake>b:intersect, cross<one line cutting another>c:break, interrupt<cut our supply lines>d (1): to divide (a deck of cards) into two portions (2): to draw (a card) from the deck e: to divide into shares :splitf:analyze, break down<any way you cut it, we won> 5 a: to make by or as if by cutting: as (1):carve<cut stone>(2): to shape by grinding <cut a diamond>(3):engrave(4): to shear or hollow out <cut a groove>b (1): to sing, play, or act for the recording of <cut an album><cut a commercial>(2): to sing or play (as a song or a track) for a studio recording c: to type on a stencil d:edit 1b <cut a motion picture> 6 a:stop, cease<cut the nonsense>b: to refuse to recognize (an acquaintance) <they cut her dead at the party>c: to absent oneself from (as a class) d: to stop (a motor) by opening a switch e: to stop the filming of (a motion-picture scene) 7 a: to engage in (a frolicsome or mischievous action) <on summer nights strange capers are cut under the thin guise of a Christian festival — D. C. Peattie>b: to give the appearance or impression of <cut a fine figure> 8: to be able to manage or handle —usually used in negative constructions <can't cut that kind of work anymore> 9 a: to yield or accord to another :give<cut me some slack>b: to fill out and sign (a check)intransitive verb1 a: to function as or as if as an edged tool b: to undergo incision or severance <cheese cuts easily>c: to perform the operation of dividing, severing, incising, or intersecting d: to make a stroke with a whip, sword, or other weapon e: to wound feelings or sensibilities f: to cause constriction or chafing g: to be of effect, influence, or significance <an analysis that cuts deep> 2 a (1): to divide a pack of cards especially in order to decide the deal or settle a bet (2): to draw a card from the pack b: to divide spoils :split 3 a: to proceed obliquely from a straight course <cut across the yard>b: to move swiftly <a yacht cutting through the water>c: to describe an oblique or diagonal line d: to change sharply in direction :swervee: to make an abrupt transition from one sound or image to another in motion pictures, radio, or television f: to make a sudden transition or imaginative leap <the story cuts to 1917> 4: to stop photographing motion pictures 5: to advance by skipping or bypassing another <cut to the front of the line>
— cut a deal: to negotiate an agreement
— cut both ways: to have both favorable and unfavorable results or implications
— cut corners: to perform some action in the quickest, easiest, or cheapest way
— cut ice: to be of importance —usually used in negative constructions <his opinion cuts no ice with me>
— cut it: to cut the mustard
— cut loose1: to free from control or restraint <cut us loose from the contract> 2: to act without restraint <enjoyed cutting loose at nightclubs>
— cut one's teeth: to learn, do, or perform as a beginning or at the start of one's career <an actress who cut her teeth on television>
— cut the mustard: to achieve the standard of performance necessary for success
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