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\ ˈkət 
\
\cut; cutting
Definition of cut
(Entry 1 of 3)
1a : to penetrate with or as if with an edged instrument
cut one's hand with a knife
b : to hurt the feelings of
Her sarcasm cut him to the quick.
c : to strike sharply with a cutting effect
cut him across the legs with a whip
d : to strike (a ball) with a glancing blow that imparts a reverse spin
cut a tennis ball with an inclined racket
e : to experience the growth of (a tooth) through the gum
The toddler is cutting a tooth.
f : to harm (oneself) by making cuts or scratches on one's body
The reasons given for self-inflicted violence indicate that it is a way of relieving intolerable feelings. When cutting themselves, women (and sometimes men) report that they do not feel any pain.— Deborah Feller
b : to shorten by omissions
cut the manuscript
c : dilute, adulterate cut the whiskey with water
d : to reduce in amount
cut costs
e : to remove (something, such as text or a picture) from a computer document and place it on the clipboard so that it can be pasted into another position, document, or program
c(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 sharply
The driver cut the steering wheel hard.
e : to go or pass around or about : bypass cut the checkout line
4a : to divide into segments
cut the cake
d(1) : to divide (a deck of cards) into two portions
(2) : to draw (a card) from the deck
e : to divide into shares : split
f : analyze, break down Any way you cut it, we won.
b(1) : to sing, play, or act for the recording of
cut an album cut a commercial
(2) : to sing or play (a song, a track, etc.) for a studio recording
c : to type on a stencil
d : edit sense 1b cut a motion picture
b : to refuse to recognize (an acquaintance)
They cut her dead at the party.
c : to absent oneself from (something, such as a class)
d : to stop (a motor) by opening a switch
e : to stop the filming of (a motion-picture scene)
7a : to engage in (a frolicsome or mischievous action)
… on summer nights strange capers are cut under the thin guise of a Christian festival.— Donald Culross 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 constructionscan't cut that kind of work anymore
9a : to yield or accord to another : give cut me some slack
b : to fill out and sign (a check)
1a : to function as or as if as an edged tool
This knife cuts well.
b : to undergo incision or severance
The cheese cuts easily.
c : to perform the operation of dividing, severing, incising, or intersecting
The tailor is busy cutting.
d : to make a stroke with a whip, sword, or other weapon
e : to wound feelings or sensibilities
remarks that cut
f : to cause constriction or chafing
a coat that cuts at the armpits
g : to be of effect, influence, or significance
an analysis that cuts deep
2a(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
3a : to proceed obliquely (see oblique entry 1 sense 1) 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 : swerve The driver cut across three lanes of traffic.
e : to make an abrupt transition from one sound or image to another in motion pictures, radio, or television
The film cuts from the ballroom to the garden.
f : to make a sudden transition or imaginative leap
The story cuts to 1917.
4 : to stop photographing motion pictures
The director yelled "Cut!"
5 : to advance by skipping or bypassing another
cut to the front of the line
6 : to engage in self-harm by making cuts or scratches on one's body
middle school students reporting they knew of several classmates who cut
cut a deal cut both ways cut corners cut ice cut it cut loose cut one's teeth cut the mustard cut to the chase
: to negotiate an agreement
The band cut a deal with the recording company.
: to have both favorable and unfavorable results or implications
: to perform some action in the quickest, easiest, or cheapest way
: to be of importance
—usually used in negative constructionsHis opinion cuts no ice with me.
: to cut the mustard
1 : to free from control or restraint
cut us loose from the contract
2 : to act without restraint
enjoyed cutting loose at nightclubs
: to learn, do, or perform as a beginning or at the start of one's career
an actress who cut her teeth on television
: to achieve the standard of performance necessary for success
She tried to join the soccer team, but she couldn't cut the mustard.
: to get to the point
She urged him to skip the details and cut to the chase.
cut
nounDefinition of cut (Entry 2 of 3)
1 : a product of cutting: such as
a(1) : an opening made with an edged instrument
(2) : a wound made by something sharp : gash
b : a creek, channel, or inlet made by excavation or worn by natural action
c : a surface or outline left by cutting
d : a passage cut as a roadway
e : a grade or step especially in a social scale
a cut above the ordinary
f : a subset of a set such that when it is subtracted from the set the remainder is not connected
g : a pictorial illustration
2 : the act or an instance of cutting: such as
a : a gesture or expression that hurts the feelings
made an unkind cut
b : a straight passage or course
c : a stroke or blow with the edge of a knife or other edged tool
d : a lash with or as if with a whip
e : the act of reducing or removing a part
a cut in pay
f : an act or turn of cutting cards also : the result of cutting
g : the elimination of part of a large field from further participation, consideration, or competition (as in a golf tournament)
—often used with miss or make to denote respectively being or not being among those eliminatedplayed well and made the cut
3 : something that is cut or cut off: such as
a : a length of cloth varying from 40 to 100 yards (36.6 to 91.4 meters)
b : the yield of products cut especially during one harvest
c : a segment or section of a meat carcass or a part of one
d : a group of animals selected from a herd
e : share took his cut of the profits
4 : a voluntary absence from a class
5a : a stroke that cuts a ball also : the spin imparted by such a stroke
b : a swing by a batter at a pitched baseball
c : an exchange of captures in checkers
6 : a result of editing: such as
a : an abrupt transition from one sound or image to another in motion pictures, radio, or television
b : an edited version of a film
cut of one's jib
: appearance, style
cut
adjectiveDefinition of cut (Entry 3 of 3)
: marked by a well-developed and highly defined musculature
cut abs
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Examples of cut in a Sentence
Verb cutting a piece of string
He uses the ax to cut wood.
The meat is so tender you can cut it with a fork. Cut along the dotted line.
The saw easily cuts through metal.
She cut into the melon with a knife.
I cut myself while shaving.
I had a cut finger.
We were fighting, and he tried to cut me with his knife.
Pieces of broken glass cut her face and arms. Noun
Make a few small cuts in the crust to let the air escape.
a two-inch cut in the cloth
He came home covered in cuts and bruises.
Further cuts in spending are needed.
You'll have to make a few cuts in your manuscript if you want us to publish it.
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Recent Examples on the Web: Verb After a Rutgers turnover, Brad Davison (nine points, five rebounds) hit 1 of 2 free throws to cut the deficit to 32-30 with 1:05 left.
—
Jeff Potrykus, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Rutgers 72, UW 65: Lack of fundamentals plague Badgers," 11 Dec. 2019 Scientists have warned that the world must cut those emissions to stave off the worst effects of warming.
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CBS News, "Exxon didn't mislead investors in climate-change lawsuit, judge rules," 10 Dec. 2019 It was reported that a vehicle cut the victim off at an intersection and blocked her vehicle from going anywhere.
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Houston Chronicle, "Bellaire Police Department weekly report," 9 Dec. 2019 Some Browns fans were upset that the team cut Chris Smith, whose girlfriend was killed in a Sept. 11 car accident.
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Terry Pluto, cleveland, "Cleveland Browns: Terry’s Talkin’ Odell’s comments, Freddie, the future," 8 Dec. 2019 Next, handsawor oscillating multi-tool to cut flush across the top of the flooring and through the casing.
—
Joesph Truini, Popular Mechanics, "8 Steps for Installing Laminate Flooring," 8 Dec. 2019 Cardenas, who as minister used to chair central bank policy meetings, said there’s a 25% probability that the government will cut borrowing costs next year, if external conditions are weak and growth is below potential.
—
Matthew Bristow, Bloomberg.com, "Colombia Risks Downgrade From Tax Cut Plan, Cardenas Says," 6 Dec. 2019 The money will help Europe expand the fleet to observe humanmade sources of carbon dioxide (CO2) on a daily basis—making ESA the only space agency capable of monitoring pledges made under the Paris accord to cut greenhouse gases.
—
Erik Stokstad, Science | AAAS, "Space budget boost puts Europe in lead to monitor carbon from space," 5 Dec. 2019 The gloomy backdrop to the UN’s COP25 climate change conference is the fact, repeated in several reports, that current pledges to cut carbon emissions are not enough to curb worst-case-scenario warming.
—
Zoë Schlanger, Quartz, "The world plans to fix climate change with carbon credits. But do they work?," 4 Dec. 2019 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Ralph Cox, UNH’s all-time leading scorer and the last player cut from the 1980 Olympic team, serves as an ambassador for the tournament, and will be with the team in Northern Ireland.
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BostonGlobe.com, "Jeremy Swayman," 28 Nov. 2019 That assumes, of course, that the cuts are made correctly by leaving just a short length of the branch collar in place.
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Neil Sperry, ExpressNews.com, "Blood meal will keep rabbits away from pansies, but it will attract dogs," 28 Nov. 2019 The department in 2017 received 253 reports of damage from dicamba drift and, in response, put in place a June 20 cut-off date for 2018 and 2019.
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Forum News Service, Twin Cities, "Minnesota sets cutoff date for dicamba herbicide products," 27 Nov. 2019 Hazel’s goal is to improve the delivery of decay-stopping technologies by incorporating them into packaging, not only for produce but also for cut meats.
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Alexia Elejalde-ruiz, chicagotribune.com, "Bananas that last forever? Extending shelf life is a key weapon in the battle against food waste, and one Chicago startup is on the front lines.," 27 Nov. 2019 Evolent Health agreed to buy a majority ownership stake in Passport, which had been struggling financially since the state last year cut Medicaid rates for the Louisville region.
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Deborah Yetter, The Courier-Journal, "Bevin administration leaves out Passport in awarding $8B in Medicaid contracts," 27 Nov. 2019 The price cut came hours before the Arizona Attorney General's Office confirmed Petersen's office was one of several assets listed in a $1.5 million seizure order.
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Robert Anglen, azcentral, "Paul Petersen's property, bank accounts frozen in $1.5 million seizure warrant," 27 Nov. 2019 In many areas, lawyers would also likely face substantial pay cuts to join the bench.
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Joseph Cranney, ProPublica, "These Judges Can Have Less Training Than Barbers but Still Decide Thousands of Cases Each Year," 27 Nov. 2019 Barneys New York will deepen its discounts over Black Friday weekend in a rare clearance of luxury brands—undercutting rival retailers that are generally loathe to offer price cuts on expensive merchandise.
—
Kim Bhasin, Fortune, "Barneys Liquidation Gives Luxury Shoppers a Rare Black Friday Treat: Deep Discounts," 26 Nov. 2019
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cut.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for cut
cut
verbEnglish Language Learners Definition of cut
(Entry 1 of 2)
: to use a sharp tool (such as a knife) to open or divide (something, such as paper or wood)
: to make a hole or wound in (a person's skin)
: to make (a hole) in something by using a sharp tool
cut
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of cut (Entry 2 of 2)
: an opening or hole made with a sharp tool (such as a knife)
: a wound on a person's body that is made by something sharp
: an act of making something smaller in amount
See the full definition for cut in the English Language Learners Dictionary
cut
verb\ ˈkət \
\cut; cutting
Kids Definition of cut
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : to penetrate or divide with or as if with an edged tool : cleave cut a finger
2 : to undergo shaping or penetrating with an edged tool
Cheese cuts easily.
3 : to divide into two or more parts
cut a deck of cards Would you cut the cake?
4 : to shorten or remove with scissors, a knife, or clippers
5 : to go by a short or direct path or course
We cut across the lawn.
6 : to destroy the connection of
Soldiers cut electricity to the enemy.
7 : to intentionally not attend
He developed a habit of cutting class.
8 : to move quickly or suddenly
The driver cut across two lanes of traffic.
9 : to make less
cut costs
10 : to experience the growth of through the gum
The baby is cutting teeth.
11 : to stop or cause to stop
Cut the motor. Cut that whispering.
12 : to cause painful feelings
That remark really cut.
13 : to shape by carving or grinding
cut a gem
cut back cut down cut in cut into cut off cut out
1 : to use less or do less of
I cut back on watching TV.
2 : to reduce the size or amount of
You'll have to cut back on your vacation plans.
1 : to knock down and wound or kill
2 : to reduce the size or amount of
The new route cuts down on travel time.
3 to use less or do less of
I'm cutting down on sweets.
: to reduce the amount of
The increase in supply costs cut into their profit.
1 : isolate The flood cut us off from the rest of the city.
2 : discontinue His father threatened to cut off his allowance.
3 : to stop or interrupt while speaking
She always cuts me off while I'm talking.
1 : to form by removing with scissors, a knife, or a saw
2 : to assign through necessity
You've got your work cut out for you.
3 : to put an end to
Cut out that nonsense!
cut
nounKids Definition of cut (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : something (as a gash or wound) produced by a sharp object
2 : reduction sense 1 He took a cut in pay.
3 : something resulting from shortening, division, or removal
a cut of beef
4 : share entry 1 sense 1 They took their cut of the winnings.
5 : a sharp stroke or blow
6 : the way in which a thing is styled, formed, or made
the cut of the pants
7 : something done or said that hurts someone's feelings
cut
verb\ ˈkət \
\cut; cutting
Medical Definition of cut
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a : to penetrate with or as if with an edged instrument
b : to cut or operate on in surgery: as
(1) : to subject (a domestic animal) to castration
(2) : to perform lithotomy on
c : to experience the emergence of (a tooth) through the gum
2 : to subject to trimming or paring
cut one's nails
1 : to function as or in the manner of an edged tool
a knife that cuts well
2 : to cut in surgery : operate
cut
nounMedical Definition of cut (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : a product of cutting: as
a : an opening made with an edged instrument
b : a wound made by something sharp
2 : a stroke or blow with the edge of a sharp implement (as a knife)
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Time Traveler for cut
The first known use of cut was in the 13th century
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