cut  (kŭt) 
v.
cut, cut·ting, cuts
v.
tr.
To penetrate with a sharp edge; strike a narrow opening in. To separate into parts with or as if with a sharp-edged instrument; sever: cut cloth with scissors. To sever the edges or ends of; shorten: cut one's hair. To mow, reap, or harvest: cut grain; cut grass. To fell by sawing; hew. To have (a new tooth) grow through the gums. To form or shape by severing or incising: a doll that was cut from paper. To form or shape by grinding: cut a diamond. To form by penetrating, probing, or digging: cut a trench. To exhibit the appearance or give the impression of: cuts a fine figure on the dance floor. To separate from a main body; detach: cut a limb from a tree. To separate from a group: cut a calf from a herd. To discharge from a group or number: had to cut six players from the team. To remove or delete: cut a line from a poem. Computer Science To remove (a segment) from a document or graphics file for storage in a buffer. To perform: cut a caper. To make out and issue: cut a check to cover travel expenses. To record a performance on (a phonograph record or other medium). To make a recording of.
To form by penetrating, probing, or digging: cut a trench. To exhibit the appearance or give the impression of: cuts a fine figure on the dance floor. To separate from a main body; detach: cut a limb from a tree. To separate from a group: cut a calf from a herd. To discharge from a group or number: had to cut six players from the team. To remove or delete: cut a line from a poem. Computer Science To remove (a segment) from a document or graphics file for storage in a buffer. To perform: cut a caper. To make out and issue: cut a check to cover travel expenses. To record a performance on (a phonograph record or other medium). To make a recording of.
To separate from a main body; detach: cut a limb from a tree. To separate from a group: cut a calf from a herd. To discharge from a group or number: had to cut six players from the team. To remove or delete: cut a line from a poem. Computer Science To remove (a segment) from a document or graphics file for storage in a buffer. To perform: cut a caper. To make out and issue: cut a check to cover travel expenses. To record a performance on (a phonograph record or other medium). To make a recording of.
To pass through or across; cross: a sailboat cutting the water. Games To divide (a deck of cards) into two parts, as in completing a shuffle or in exposing a card at random. To reduce the size, extent, or duration of; curtail or shorten: cut a payroll; cut a budget; cut the cooking time in half. To remove or delete: cut a line from a poem. Computer Science To remove (a segment) from a document or graphics file for storage in a buffer. To perform: cut a caper. To make out and issue: cut a check to cover travel expenses. To record a performance on (a phonograph record or other medium). To make a recording of.
To lessen the strength of; dilute: cut whiskey with water. To dissolve by breaking down the fat of: Soap cuts grease. To injure the feelings of; hurt keenly. To refuse to speak to or recognize; snub: cut me dead at the party. To fail to attend purposely: cut a class. Informal To cease; stop: cut the noise; cut an engine. Sports To strike (a ball) so that it spins in a reverse direction. To perform: cut a caper. To make out and issue: cut a check to cover travel expenses. To record a performance on (a phonograph record or other medium). To make a recording of.
Slang To be able to manage; handle successfully: couldn't cut the long hours anymore. To stop filming (a movie scene). To record a performance on (a phonograph record or other medium). To make a recording of.
To edit (film or recording tape). Vulgar Slang To expel (a discharge of intestinal gas).
v.
intr.
To make an incision or a separation: Cut along the dotted line. To allow incision or severing: Butter cuts easily. To function as a sharp-edged instrument. To remove part of something, such as a text or film. Computer Science To remove a part of a document or graphics file and store it in a buffer.
To grow through the gums. Used of teeth. To injure someone's feelings: a remark that cut without mercy. To change direction abruptly: Cut to the left at the next intersection. To go directly and often hastily: cut across a field. Games To divide a pack of cards into two parts, especially in order to make a chance decision or selection. To make an abrupt change of image or sound, as in filming: cut from one shot to another. To be very astute and penetrating: an analysis that cuts deep.
n. The act of cutting. The result of cutting, especially an opening or wound made by a sharp edge. A part that has been cut from a main body: a cut of beef; a cut of cloth. A passage made by digging or probing. The elimination or removal of a part: a cut in a speech. A reduction: a cut in salary. Sports The remainder of contestants in a competition, especially in golf, after some have been eliminated: did very well but still missed the cut. The style in which a garment is cut: a suit of traditional cut. A haircut. Informal A portion of profits or earnings; a share. A wounding remark; an insult. An unexcused absence, as from school or a class. A step in a scale of value or quality; degree: a cut above the average. Printing An engraved block or plate. A print made from such a block.
Sports A stroke that causes a ball to spin in a reverse direction. Baseball A swing of a bat. Games The act of dividing a deck of cards into two parts, as before dealing. One of the objects used in drawing lots. An abrupt change of image or sound, as between shots in a film. A transition from one scene to another in a film, video, or television program. A movie at a given stage in its editing: approved the final cut for distribution. A single selection of music from a recording, especially a phonograph recording.
adj. Having the ends or edges cut: admired his newly cut hair. Having been cut or clipped off: cut grass that blew in the wind. Printing Having the page edge slit or trimmed. Used of a book. Ground to a specific shape: cut gemstones. Slang Circumcised. Used of a man or boy. To shorten by cutting; prune. To reduce or decrease: cut back production. To kill or strike down. To alter by removing extra or additional fittings: cut down a car for racing. To reduce the amount taken or used: cutting down on one's intake of rich foods. To move into a line of people or things out of turn. To interrupt: During the debate my opponent kept cutting in. To interrupt a dancing couple in order to dance with one of them. To connect or become connected into an electrical circuit. To mix in with or as if with cutting motions: Measure out the flour and use a pair of knives to cut the shortening in. To include, especially among those profiting. To separate from others; isolate. To stop suddenly; discontinue. To shut off; bar. To interrupt the course or passage of: The infielder cut off the throw to the plate. To interrupt or break the line of communication of: The telephone operator cut us off. To disinherit: cut their heirs off without a cent. To remove by or as if by cutting. To form or shape by or as if by cutting. To take the place of; supplant. To suit or fit by nature: I'm not cut out to be a hero. To assign beforehand or by necessity; predetermine: We've got our work cut out for us. To deprive: felt cut out of all the fun. To stop; cease. Informal To depart hastily. Chiefly Southern U.S. To turn off (a light or television set). To behave in a playful, comic, or boisterous way; clown. To criticize severely.
Phrasal Verb(s):
cut backTo shorten by cutting; prune. To reduce or decrease: cut back production.
cut downTo kill or strike down. To alter by removing extra or additional fittings: cut down a car for racing. To reduce the amount taken or used: cutting down on one's intake of rich foods.
cut inTo move into a line of people or things out of turn. To interrupt: During the debate my opponent kept cutting in. To interrupt a dancing couple in order to dance with one of them. To connect or become connected into an electrical circuit. To mix in with or as if with cutting motions: Measure out the flour and use a pair of knives to cut the shortening in. To include, especially among those profiting.
cut offTo separate from others; isolate. To stop suddenly; discontinue. To shut off; bar. To interrupt the course or passage of: The infielder cut off the throw to the plate. To interrupt or break the line of communication of: The telephone operator cut us off. To disinherit: cut their heirs off without a cent.
cut outTo remove by or as if by cutting. To form or shape by or as if by cutting. To take the place of; supplant. To suit or fit by nature: I'm not cut out to be a hero. To assign beforehand or by necessity; predetermine: We've got our work cut out for us. To deprive: felt cut out of all the fun. To stop; cease. Informal To depart hastily. Chiefly Southern U.S. To turn off (a light or television set).
cut up Informal To behave in a playful, comic, or boisterous way; clown. To criticize severely.
Idiom(s):
cut a fat hog Texas To take on more than one is able to accomplish: "Boy, has he cut a fat hog, as they say down home" (Hughes Rudd).
Idiom(s):
cut a wide swathTo make a big display; draw much attention.
Idiom(s):
cut both waysTo have both favorable and unfavorable results or implications.
Idiom(s):
cut cornersTo do something in the easiest or most inexpensive way.
Idiom(s):
cut down to sizeTo deflate the self-importance of.
Idiom(s):
cut it Informal To perform up to expectations or a required standard; be acceptable.
Idiom(s):
cut looseTo speak or act without restraint: cut loose with a string of curses.
Idiom(s):
cut no iceTo make no effect or impression: an objection that cut no ice with management.
Idiom(s):
cut off (one's) nose to spite (one's) faceTo injure oneself in taking revenge against another.
Idiom(s):
cut (one's) lossesTo withdraw from a losing situation.
Idiom(s):
cut (one's) teeth onTo learn or do as a beginner or at the start of one's career.
Idiom(s):
cut shortTo stop before the end; abbreviate.
Idiom(s):
cut the cheese Vulgar Slang To expel intestinal gas.
Idiom(s):
cut the mustardTo perform up to expectations or to a required standard.
Idiom(s):
cut to the chaseTo get to the matter at hand.
[Middle English cutten.]
cut'ta·ble adj. |
