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ENGLISH · A WORD WITH POSSIBILITIES

cut.

To incise, to cut into the surface of something.

3 characters1 syllables approx.English language

Meaning & usage

verb/kʌt/General-American, Received-Pronunciation/kɐt/Australia, New-Zealand/kʊt/Northern-England
  1. To incise, to cut into the surface of something. To perform an incision on, for example with a knife.

    transitive
  2. To incise, to cut into the surface of something. To divide with a knife, scissors, or another sharp instrument.

    transitive
    Would you please cut the cake?
  3. To incise, to cut into the surface of something. To form or shape by cutting.

    transitive
    I have three diamonds to cut today.
  4. To incise, to cut into the surface of something. To wound with a knife.

    slang · transitive
  5. To incise, to cut into the surface of something. To engage in self-harm by making cuts in one's own skin.

    intransitive · transitive
    The patient said she had been cutting since the age of thirteen.
  6. To incise, to cut into the surface of something. To deliver a stroke with a whip or like instrument to.

    ambitransitive · transitive
  7. To incise, to cut into the surface of something. To wound or hurt deeply the sensibilities of; to pierce.

    transitive
    Sarcasm cuts to the quick.
  8. To incise, to cut into the surface of something. To castrate or geld.

    transitive
    to cut a horse
  9. To incise, to cut into the surface of something. To interfere, as a horse; to strike one foot against the opposite foot or ankle in using the legs.

    transitive
  10. To admit of incision or severance; to yield to a cutting instrument.

    intransitive
  11. To separate, remove, reject or reduce. To separate or omit, in a situation where one was previously associated.

    transitive
    Travis was cut from the team.
  12. To separate, remove, reject or reduce. To abridge or shorten a work; to remove a portion of a recording during editing.

    transitive
  13. To separate, remove, reject or reduce. To reduce, especially intentionally.

    transitive
    They're going to cut salaries by fifteen percent.
  14. To separate, remove, reject or reduce. To absent oneself from (a class, an appointment, etc.).

    transitive
    I cut fifth period to hang out with Angela.
  15. To separate, remove, reject or reduce. To leave abruptly.

    intransitive · slang · transitive
    I gotta cut but I'll see you tomorrow, okay?
  16. To ignore as a social rebuff or snub.

    transitive
    After the incident at the dinner party, people started to cut him on the street.
  17. To make an abrupt transition from one scene or image to another.

    intransitive
    The camera then cut to the woman on the front row who was clearly overcome and crying tears of joy.
  18. To edit a film by selecting takes from original footage.

    transitive
  19. To remove (text, a picture, etc.) and place in memory in order to paste at a later time.

    transitive
    Select the text, cut it, and then paste it in the other application.
  20. To enter a queue in the wrong place.

    intransitive
    One student kept trying to cut in front of the line.
  21. To intersect or cross in such a way as to divide in half or nearly so.

    intransitive
    This road cuts right through downtown.
  22. To make the ball spin sideways by running one's fingers down the side of the ball while bowling it.

    transitive
  23. To deflect (a bowled ball) to the off, with a chopping movement of the bat.

    transitive
  24. To change direction suddenly.

    intransitive
    The football player cut to his left to evade a tackle.
  25. To divide a pack of playing cards into two parts, often followed by placing the two parts back together in the opposite order.

    intransitive · transitive
    If you cut then I'll deal.
  26. To make, negotiate; to finalise, conclude; to issue.

    slang · transitive
    I'll cut a check for you.
    I didn't deserve it, but he cut me a deal.
  27. To dilute or adulterate something, especially a recreational drug.

    slang · transitive
    The best malt whiskies are improved if they are cut with a dash of water.
    The bartender cuts his beer to save money and now it's all watery.
  28. To exhibit (a figure having some trait).

    transitive
    The Bender family cut a very distinct profile.
  29. To stop, disengage, or cease.

    transitive
    The schoolchildren were told to cut the noise.
    Cut the engines when the plane comes to a halt!
  30. To renounce or give up.

    transitive
  31. To drive (a ball) to one side, as by (in billiards or croquet) hitting it fine with another ball, or (in tennis) striking it with the racket inclined.

  32. To lose body mass, aiming to keep muscle but lose body fat.

  33. To perform (an elaborate dancing movement etc.).

  34. To run or hurry.

    colloquial · intransitive
Where this word comes from

From Middle English cutten, of North Germanic origin, from Old Norse *kytja, *kutta, from Proto-Germanic *kutjaną, *kuttaną (“to cut”), of uncertain origin, perhaps related to Proto-Germanic *kwetwą (“meat, flesh”) (compare Old Norse kvett (“meat”)). Sometimes instead compared to French couteau, itself from Latin culter (“knife”). Copmare Scots kut, kit (“to cut”)); also akin to Middle Swedish kotta (“to cut or carve with a knife”) (compare dialectal Swedish kåta, kuta (“to cut or chip with a knife”), Swedish kuta, kytti (“a knife”)), Norwegian Bokmål kutte (“to cut”), Norwegian Nynorsk kutte (“to cut”), Icelandic kuta (“to cut with a knife”), Old Norse kuti (“small knife”), Norwegian kyttel, kytel, kjutul (“pointed slip of wood used to strip bark”). Displaced Middle English snithen (from snīþan), still attested in dialectal snithe and snead. See snide. The adjective sense of "drunk" (now rare and now usually used in the originally humorous derivative form of half-cut) dates from the 17th century, from cut in the leg or to have cut your leg, a euphemism for being very drunk.

adj/kʌt/General-American, Received-Pronunciation/kɐt/Australia, New-Zealand/kʊt/Northern-England
  1. Having been cut.

    adjective · error-misspelling · participle
  2. Reduced.

    The pitcher threw a cut fastball that was slower than his usual pitch.
    Cut brandy is a liquor made of brandy and hard grain liquor.
  3. Carved into a shape; not raw.

  4. Played with a horizontal bat to hit the ball backward of point.

  5. Having muscular definition in which individual groups of muscle fibers stand out among larger muscles.

  6. Circumcised or having been the subject of female genital mutilation.

    informal
  7. Upset, angry; emotionally hurt.

    Australia · New-Zealand · slang
  8. Intoxicated as a result of drugs or alcohol.

    New-Zealand · slang
Where this word comes from

From Middle English cutten, of North Germanic origin, from Old Norse *kytja, *kutta, from Proto-Germanic *kutjaną, *kuttaną (“to cut”), of uncertain origin, perhaps related to Proto-Germanic *kwetwą (“meat, flesh”) (compare Old Norse kvett (“meat”)). Sometimes instead compared to French couteau, itself from Latin culter (“knife”). Copmare Scots kut, kit (“to cut”)); also akin to Middle Swedish kotta (“to cut or carve with a knife”) (compare dialectal Swedish kåta, kuta (“to cut or chip with a knife”), Swedish kuta, kytti (“a knife”)), Norwegian Bokmål kutte (“to cut”), Norwegian Nynorsk kutte (“to cut”), Icelandic kuta (“to cut with a knife”), Old Norse kuti (“small knife”), Norwegian kyttel, kytel, kjutul (“pointed slip of wood used to strip bark”). Displaced Middle English snithen (from snīþan), still attested in dialectal snithe and snead. See snide. The adjective sense of "drunk" (now rare and now usually used in the originally humorous derivative form of half-cut) dates from the 17th century, from cut in the leg or to have cut your leg, a euphemism for being very drunk.

noun/kʌt/General-American, Received-Pronunciation/kɐt/Australia, New-Zealand/kʊt/Northern-England
  1. The act of cutting.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
    He made a fine cut with his sword.
  2. The act of cutting. An attack made with a chopping motion of the blade, landing with its edge or point.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
  3. The act of cutting. A time period when one attempts to lose fat while retaining muscle mass.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
  4. The result of cutting.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
    a smooth or clear cut
  5. The result of cutting. An opening of a living body resulting from cutting; an incision or wound.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
  6. The result of cutting. An opening of a living body resulting from cutting; an incision or wound. Such a wound through human skin.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
    Look at this cut on my finger!
  7. The result of cutting. A notch, passage, or channel made by cutting or digging; a furrow; a groove.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
  8. The result of cutting. A notch, passage, or channel made by cutting or digging; a furrow; a groove. Such a passage dug for a roadway for a paved road or railroad, a canal, a runway, etc.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
    a cut through the hillside for a railroad
  9. The result of cutting. An artificial channel for marine navigation, as distinguished from a navigable river.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
  10. The result of cutting. A share or portion of profits.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
    The taxman always gets his cut, and that's fine as long as it's a haircut and not an amputation.
    The bank robbers disbanded after everyone got their cut of the money.
  11. The result of cutting. A decrease or deletion.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
    The boss took a 5% pay cut.
    The editors went a little crazy making so many cuts.
  12. The result of cutting. The manner or style in which a garment, other article of clothing, or sail is fashioned.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
    I like the cut of that suit.
    I like the cut of that jib.
  13. The result of cutting. A slab or slice, especially of meat.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
    That’s our largest cut of meat.
  14. The result of cutting. A standard type of meat portion in butchery.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
    The Vegas Strip is a supposedly new cut of beef.
  15. The result of cutting. A batsman's shot played with a swinging motion of the bat, to hit the ball backward of point.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
  16. The result of cutting. Sideways movement of the ball through the air caused by a fast bowler imparting spin to the ball.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
  17. The result of cutting. In lawn tennis, etc., a slanting stroke causing the ball to spin and bound irregularly; also, the spin thus given to the ball.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
  18. The result of cutting. In a stroke play competition, the early elimination of those players who have not then attained a preannounced score, so that the rest of the competition is less pressed for time and more entertaining for spectators.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
  19. The result of cutting. A passage omitted or to be omitted from a play, movie script, speech, etc.

    countable · especially · figuratively · uncountable
    The director asked the cast to note down the following cuts.
  20. The result of cutting. A particular version or edit of a film.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
    the director's cut
  21. The result of cutting. The act or right of dividing a deck of playing cards.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
    The player next to the dealer makes a cut by placing the bottom half on top.
  22. The result of cutting. The card obtained by dividing the pack.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
  23. The result of cutting. A deliberate snub, typically a refusal to return a bow or other acknowledgement of acquaintance.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
  24. The result of cutting. An unkind act; a cruelty.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
  25. The result of cutting. An insult.

    countable · figuratively · slang · uncountable
  26. The result of cutting. A definable part, such as an individual song, of a recording, particularly of commercial records, audio tapes, CDs, etc.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
    The drummer on the last cut of their CD is not identified.
  27. The result of cutting. A truncation, a context that represents a moment in time when other archaeological deposits were removed for the creation of some feature such as a ditch or pit.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
  28. The result of cutting. A haircut.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
  29. The result of cutting. The partition of a graph’s vertices into two subgroups.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
  30. The result of cutting. A dividing line in a Tumblr post, the content below which is hidden until the reader reveals it.

    Internet · countable · figuratively · uncountable
    That's the TL;DR, anyway. You can find a more detailed version under the cut.
  31. The result of cutting. A string of railway cars coupled together, shorter than a train.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
  32. The result of cutting. An engraved block or plate; the impression from such an engraving.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
    a book illustrated with fine cuts
  33. The result of cutting. A common workhorse; a gelding.

    countable · figuratively · obsolete · uncountable
  34. The result of cutting. The failure of a college officer or student to be present at any appointed exercise.

    countable · dated · figuratively · slang · uncountable
  35. The result of cutting. A skein of yarn.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
  36. The result of cutting. That which is used to dilute or adulterate a recreational drug.

    figuratively · slang · uncountable
    Don't buy his coke: it's full of cut.
  37. The result of cutting. A notch shaved into an eyebrow.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
  38. The result of cutting. A hidden, secluded, or secure place.

    countable · figuratively · slang · uncountable
  39. The result of cutting. The range of temperatures used to distill a particular mixture of hydrocarbons from crude oil.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
  40. The result of cutting. A sleeveless vest worn by members of a motorcycle club.

    countable · figuratively · uncountable
Where this word comes from

From Middle English cutten, of North Germanic origin, from Old Norse *kytja, *kutta, from Proto-Germanic *kutjaną, *kuttaną (“to cut”), of uncertain origin, perhaps related to Proto-Germanic *kwetwą (“meat, flesh”) (compare Old Norse kvett (“meat”)). Sometimes instead compared to French couteau, itself from Latin culter (“knife”). Copmare Scots kut, kit (“to cut”)); also akin to Middle Swedish kotta (“to cut or carve with a knife”) (compare dialectal Swedish kåta, kuta (“to cut or chip with a knife”), Swedish kuta, kytti (“a knife”)), Norwegian Bokmål kutte (“to cut”), Norwegian Nynorsk kutte (“to cut”), Icelandic kuta (“to cut with a knife”), Old Norse kuti (“small knife”), Norwegian kyttel, kytel, kjutul (“pointed slip of wood used to strip bark”). Displaced Middle English snithen (from snīþan), still attested in dialectal snithe and snead. See snide. The adjective sense of "drunk" (now rare and now usually used in the originally humorous derivative form of half-cut) dates from the 17th century, from cut in the leg or to have cut your leg, a euphemism for being very drunk.

intj/kʌt/General-American, Received-Pronunciation/kɐt/Australia, New-Zealand/kʊt/Northern-England
  1. An instruction to cease recording.

Where this word comes from

From Middle English cutten, of North Germanic origin, from Old Norse *kytja, *kutta, from Proto-Germanic *kutjaną, *kuttaną (“to cut”), of uncertain origin, perhaps related to Proto-Germanic *kwetwą (“meat, flesh”) (compare Old Norse kvett (“meat”)). Sometimes instead compared to French couteau, itself from Latin culter (“knife”). Copmare Scots kut, kit (“to cut”)); also akin to Middle Swedish kotta (“to cut or carve with a knife”) (compare dialectal Swedish kåta, kuta (“to cut or chip with a knife”), Swedish kuta, kytti (“a knife”)), Norwegian Bokmål kutte (“to cut”), Norwegian Nynorsk kutte (“to cut”), Icelandic kuta (“to cut with a knife”), Old Norse kuti (“small knife”), Norwegian kyttel, kytel, kjutul (“pointed slip of wood used to strip bark”). Displaced Middle English snithen (from snīþan), still attested in dialectal snithe and snead. See snide. The adjective sense of "drunk" (now rare and now usually used in the originally humorous derivative form of half-cut) dates from the 17th century, from cut in the leg or to have cut your leg, a euphemism for being very drunk.

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Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.