DictionaryAI

cut

KUT/kʌt/

Verbcuts, cutting, cut

Noun pluralcuts

85 meanings of cut

Practice

  1. 1
    slice upverbtransitive
    To divide something into pieces using a knife, scissors, or another sharp tool.

    Like splitting an apple in half with a knife.

    Please cut the bread into thin slices.

    She cut the paper with bright red scissors.

    UsageSay cut something into pieces: cut the bread into slices.

    Similarchop, slice, divide, split

    Note
  2. 2
    reduceverbtransitive
    To make something smaller in amount, usually on purpose.

    Like letting some water out of a full cup so there is less.

    The store decided to cut prices before the holidays.

    We need to cut our spending this month.

    UsageSay cut prices by ten percent, or cut down on spending.

    Similarreduce, lower, slash, trim, decrease

    Oppositeincrease, raise, boost

    Note
  3. 3
    reductionnounfigurativelycountable or uncountable
    A drop in the size or amount of something.

    Workers were upset about the pay cut.

    The tax cut put more money in people's pockets.

    UsageSay a pay cut or a cut in prices.

    Similarreduction, decrease, drop, decline

    Oppositeincrease, hike

    Note
  4. 4
    verbtransitive
    To make a cut in something or someone with a knife or other sharp thing, sometimes causing a wound.

    I cut my hand on a broken glass.

    Be careful, that knife can cut you.

    UsageThe past form is also cut: I cut my hand.

    Similarslice, nick, slit

    Note
  5. 5
    woundnounfigurativelycountable or uncountable
    An opening made in the body of a person or animal by something sharp.

    The vet cleaned the cut on the dog's leg.

    Our cat came home with a small cut on its ear.

    Similarincision, wound, gash, laceration

  6. 6
    verbtransitive
    To make something into a shape by removing pieces with a sharp tool.

    The artist cut a star from the folded paper.

    Use small scissors to cut the paper into a heart.

    Similarcarve, shape, chisel, hew

    Note
  7. 7
    verbtransitive
    To drop someone or something that used to be part of a group.

    The coach had to cut three players from the team.

    They cut him from the project after the disagreement.

    UsageSay someone was cut from the team.

    Similardrop, remove, axe, eliminate

    Oppositeadd, include

    Note
  8. 8
    verbtransitive
    To make something stop working or turn it off.

    Like flipping a switch to make a noisy machine go quiet.

    Cut the engine before you leave the boat.

    She cut the power to fix the broken switch safely.

    UsageSay cut the engine to turn it off. Cut it out! means stop it.

    Similarstop, kill

    Oppositestart (entry)

  9. 9
    verbtransitive
    To make a book, film or recording shorter by taking parts out.

    We need to cut this speech so it fits in five minutes.

    The bad words were cut from the radio version of the song.

    UsageYou can cut a speech, or cut a part from it.

    Similarshorten, trim, abridge, drop

    Oppositeexpand, lengthen

    Note
  10. 10
    verbintransitive
    To go straight through or across something, splitting it into two parts.

    Train tracks cut across the farm, so the cows can't reach the far field.

    The river cuts through the middle of the town.

    UsageSay cuts through or cuts across: the river cuts through the town.

    Similarrun, pass

    Note
  11. 11
    nounfigurativelycountable or uncountable
    The shape or style of someone's hair after it is trimmed.

    I love your new cut. It really suits you.

    She asked for a shorter cut before summer.

    Similarhaircut, hairstyle, style

  12. 12
    meat piecenounfigurativelycountable or uncountable
    A piece of food cut from something larger, especially meat from one part of an animal.

    This cut of beef is perfect for slow cooking.

    The butcher recommended a cheaper cut for the stew.

    UsageSay a cut of meat.

    Similarpiece, slice, joint

    Note
  13. 13
    nounfigurativelycountable or uncountable
    The act of cutting something.

    With one cut of the scissors, the ribbon fell to the floor.

    Give the rope one more cut and it will come apart.

    Similarstroke, slash, chop

  14. 14
    tracknounfigurativelycountable or uncountable
    One separate song or track on a record, tape, or CD.

    The third cut on the album is my favorite.

    They released one cut as a single before the full record.

    UsageMost people say track.

    Similartrack

    Note
  15. 15
    nounfigurativelycountable or uncountable
    The way a piece of clothing or a sail is shaped and sewn.

    Like the shape of a paper pattern that decides how the finished clothes look.

    The cut of the jacket made his shoulders look broader.

    I love the cut of this jacket, but not the color.

    UsageSay the cut of a jacket: its shape.

    Similarstyle, fit, tailoring, shape

    Note
  16. 16
    verbtransitive
    To slowly wear away or dig out ground to make a channel, valley, or path, like a river does.

    Rivers cut deep valleys through the hills over a very long time.

    Heavy rain can cut little channels into a dirt road.

    Similarcarve, gouge

  17. 17
    turn sharplyverbintransitive
    To turn sharply and suddenly to one side.

    Like a bike swerving fast to one side to miss a rock.

    Defenders watch for players who cut suddenly toward the goal.

    The car cut sharply to avoid the pothole.

    Similarveer, swerve, turn

  18. 18
    trenchnounfigurativelycountable or uncountable
    A narrow opening, groove, or channel made by cutting or digging.

    Like a groove carved into wood by a sharp tool.

    Rainwater collected in the deep cut along the roadside.

    They dug a cut through the hill to lay the pipe.

    Similarchannel, trench, groove, furrow

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of cut apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

From Middle English cutten, meaning "to cut." It probably came from an old North Germanic source, and its deeper origin is uncertain.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts