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cut

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verb

/kʌt/

present tense
I/you/we/they	cut
he/she/it	cuts
present participle	cutting
past tense	cut
past participle	cut

Other entries for this word

Related dictionary definitions

more dictionary definitions

1
[transitive] to use a knife, pair of scissors, or other sharp tool to divide something into two or more pieces
I'm going to cut the cake now.
The telephone wires had been cut.
cut something in half/two:
The apples had been cut in half.
cut something into pieces/quarters/three etc.:
Cut the pepper into small pieces.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
1. a.
  to use a sharp tool to remove a piece from something
  I cut a slice of bread.
  cut someone something:
  Will you cut me a slice of pizza?
  cut something from/off something:
  You should cut that broken branch off the tree.
  cut something in/through something:
  Firemen had to cut a hole in the car roof to get him out.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
2. b.
  to use a sharp tool to make something shorter
  You need to cut your toenails.
  It's Ken's turn to cut the grass.
  have/get your hair cut:
  I'm going to have my hair cut tomorrow.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
2
[intransitive] to be capable of cutting in a particular way
These scissors don't cut very well.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
1. a.
  [transitive] to be able to cut a particular substance
  a tool that cuts metal easily
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
3
[transitive] to injure a part of your body with something sharp that cuts the skin
Be careful not to cut your finger.
He cut himself shaving.
Her face was badly cut by flying glass.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
4
[transitive] to reduce something such as the amount or level of something
Supermarkets are drastically cutting prices.
We have cut our spending by 33%.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
5
[transitive] to reduce the strength or effectiveness of something by mixing it with something else
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
6
[transitive] computing to remove a part of a computer document, especially in order to paste it into another place or document
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
See also cut and paste
7
cut
or
cut off
[transitive] to stop the supply of something, or to stop something working
The accident had cut the oxygen to her brain.
All lines of communication had been cut.
Could you cut the engine for a minute?
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
8
[transitive] to make something such as a piece of writing, a speech, a movie, or a broadcast shorter by removing parts from it
You need to cut your speech by about 10 minutes.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
1. a.
  cut
  or
  cut out
  to remove parts from something such as a piece of writing, a speech, a movie, or a broadcast, especially because they are not suitable
  They have cut some scenes from the film.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
9
[intransitive/transitive] to divide a set of playing cards into two piles
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
10
[transitive] to divide an area into two or more parts
The Danube cuts Budapest in two.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
11
[transitive] music if a musician or band cuts a record, they record it
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
12
cut
or
cut across
[transitive] to pass through or across something
the place where Broadway cuts 42nd Street
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
13
cut
or
cut in line
[intransitive] American to take a place near the front of a line of people rather than going to the back
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut

phrases

cut and run
informal
to get out of a situation when it becomes too difficult or unpleasant
When she got pregnant, he cut and run.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
cut both ways
if something cuts both ways, it has both good and bad aspects
Independence in a relationship cuts both ways.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
cut a check
American
if a business cuts a check, it approves or writes it
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
cut the cheese
American
to fart
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
cut class/school
American informal
to not go to class/school when you should be there
That's the second time you've cut class this week.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
cut corners
to not do a job as thoroughly as you should, especially because you want to finish it quickly or save money
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
cut someone dead
to pretend not to see or recognize someone that you know, or to refuse to talk to them
I shouted hello but she cut me dead.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
cut a deal
to make a business deal
Her agent cut a deal giving her 30% of the profits.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
cut a fine/ridiculous etc. figure
literary
to look very attractive/silly etc.
Tom cut a striking figure in his dark dinner jacket.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
cut the ground from under someone's feet
to spoil someone's plans or achievements by doing something better than them or by doing it before them
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
cut it
informal
to be satisfactory or successful
We want to know why so many talented youngsters just don't cut it.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
cut it close
American informal
to give yourself only a very short amount of time to do something
He left the hotel at 9 a.m., which was cutting it close for his 9:15 meeting.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
cut loose
informal
1. 1
  if someone cuts loose or is cut loose, they stop being influenced or controlled by someone
  It's time you cut loose from your family.
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
2. 2
  informal to stop behaving in a controlled way and start having fun
  Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
cut your losses
to get out of a bad situation before it gets worse instead of waiting to see whether it will improve
She realized it was time to cut her losses and give up.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
cut no ice/not cut any ice (with someone)
to fail to impress or influence someone
His excuses cut no ice with me.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
cut your own throat
to behave in a way that causes serious harm or trouble for yourself
If I sold them at that price I'd be cutting my own throat.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
cut someone short
to interrupt someone who is talking so that they cannot finish what they are saying
He tried to explain, but Anita cut him short.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
cut something short
to make something last for less time than planned
I'm sorry we had to cut our visit short.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
cut your teeth on something
to get your first experience in a particular job by doing something
actors who cut their teeth on low-budget movies
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
cut to the chase
to start dealing with the most important aspect of something rather than things that are less relevant
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
cut someone to the quick
to say or do something unkind that makes someone feel very upset
His mockery, which he meant as a joke, cut her to the quick.
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
cut a tooth
if a child cuts a tooth, it starts to grow through the gum
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut
not cut the mustard
informal
to not be good enough
Thesaurus entry for this meaning of cut

phrasal verbs

cyberloafing

using the Internet where you work, during working hours, for activities which are not work-related

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Word of the Day

wane

getting smaller, weaker, or less important

Open Dictionary

show a bit of ankle

… to reveal a small part of your intentions in order to attract support, without actually committing yourself to doing anything

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Did you know?

cut

What are red words?

Thesaurus

Related dictionary definitions

Menu

cut

cut off

cut

cut out

cut

cut across

cut

cut in line

phrases

cut and run

cut both ways

cut a check

cut the cheese

cut class/school

cut corners

cut someone dead

cut a deal

cut a fine/ridiculous etc. figure

cut the ground from under someone's feet

cut it

cut it close

cut loose

cut your losses

cut no ice/not cut any ice (with someone)

cut your own throat

cut someone short

cut something short

cut your teeth on something

cut to the chase

cut someone to the quick

cut a tooth

not cut the mustard

phrasal verbs

cyberloafing

Word of the Day

wane

show a bit of ankle