cutter

noun

cut·​ter ˈkə-tər 

plural cutters

1

: one that cuts:

a

: one whose work is cutting or involves cutting

wood/glass cutters

b(1)

: an instrument, machine, machine part, or tool that cuts

(2)

: a device for vibrating a cutting stylus in disc recording

also : the stylus or its point

2

a

: a ship's boat for carrying stores or passengers

b

: a single-masted fore-and-aft rigged sailing vessel

c

: a small armed vessel in government service

3

baseball : cut fastball

His previous three home runs had come on a fastball, a cutter and a slider.

—Billy Witz

4

: a light sleigh

5

: a person who cuts himself or herself purposely (see cut entry 1 sense 1f) : a person who engages in cutting

The cast includes Jill, a middle-class runaway in love with the romance of risk; Maura, a "cutter" who engages in self-mutilation to thwart her over-controlling father …

—Cecelia Goodnow

Synonyms

• blade
• knife
• shank [slang]
• shiv [slang]

Examples of cutter in a Sentence

a fabric cutter

Recent Examples on the Web

The bill would also bar suppliers from providing slabs to unlicensed cutters. —Emily Alpert Reyes, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2024

Kind of a cutter guy against righties, occasional curveballs against lefties. —Bill Plunkett, Orange County Register, 20 May 2024

Her costume shop is a whirlwind of activity, with stitchers and cutter drapers at sewing machines or working by hand, bustling about, piecing together various components of costumes for the cast. —Tammy Ljungblad, Kansas City Star, 9 May 2024

His cutter consistently darted away from right-handed hitters. —Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 26 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cutter

• box cutter
• cookie cutter
• cord cutter
• leaf-cutter
• milling cutter
• paper cutter
• price-cutter
• revenue cutter

Kids Definition

cutter

noun

cut·​ter ˈkət-ər 

1

: one that cuts

a diamond cutter

a cookie cutter

2

a

: a ship's boat for carrying supplies or passengers

b

: a small sailing boat with one mast

c

: a small armed boat in government service

3

: a small sleigh