# cutting

Pronunciation: say "KUT-ing" /ˈkʌtɪŋ/

## Verb

1. Present participle of cut. — present participle and gerund of cut
   - Simple: Present participle of cut. Use this form when the cutting is happening now or as the name of the action.
   - _She was cutting vegetables when the phone rang._
   - _Cutting the rope set the small boat adrift._

## Noun

2. The action or process of using a blade to divide or sever something.
   - Simple: The act of using a blade to divide or remove something.
   - _The cutting of the ribbon marked the store's grand opening._
   - _Steady cutting along the marked line produced a clean edge._
3. A leaf, stem, branch, or root taken from a plant and grown on to produce a new plant.
   - Simple: A small piece of a plant, like a stem or leaf, that you grow into a new plant.
   - _She took a cutting from the rose bush and planted it in damp soil._
   - _Several cuttings rooted within a few weeks on the windowsill._
6. A piece or section removed from a larger whole.
   - Simple: A piece that has been cut from something bigger.
   - _She set aside a cutting from the fabric to test the dye._
   - _He kept several cuttings from the old wallpaper as samples._
7. A piece cut out from a newspaper, such as an article or photograph kept for reference.
   - Simple: A piece cut from a newspaper, such as an article or photo you want to keep.
   - _She pinned the cutting about her son's award to the fridge._
   - _He kept a folder of cuttings about the local team's season._
8. The editing of recorded film or audio into its finished form.
   - Simple: The work of choosing and joining parts of film or sound recordings.
   - _The film's cutting gave the chase scene its tension._
   - _Rough cutting comes well before the final sound mix._
10. An abridged selection from a written work, often prepared for performance.
   - Simple: A shortened part of a play or book, often used for a performance.
   - _She chose a cutting from Hamlet for her audition._
   - _The students performed cuttings from several modern plays._
11. A passage dug below the level of the surrounding land to carry a road, railroad, or canal through rising ground. *(UK)*
   - Simple: A low passage dug through higher ground for a road, railroad, or canal.
   - _The train slowed as it entered the deep cutting._
   - _Engineers widened the cutting to make room for a second track._
12. The act of cutting one's own skin as a form of self-harm, often linked to mental distress.
   - Simple: Hurting yourself on purpose by cutting your own skin.
   - _Her therapist helped her find healthier alternatives to cutting._
   - _The support group addressed cutting alongside other forms of self-harm._
13. The process of shaping metal by chipping away unwanted material.
   - Simple: Shaping metal by cutting away the parts you don't want.
   - _High-speed cutting generated enough heat to discolor the steel._
   - _The factory's cutting produced parts accurate to a fraction of a millimeter._

## Adjective

4. Of a remark or criticism, harsh and likely to wound; curt.
   - Simple: Used about words that are unkind and meant to hurt someone's feelings.
   - _Her cutting reply silenced the whole room._
   - _He made a cutting comment about the quality of her work._
5. Sharp and piercing, especially to the senses.
   - Simple: Very sharp and biting, like a strong cold wind.
   - _A cutting wind swept across the open field at dawn._
   - _The cutting chill of the mountain air made her eyes water._
9. Designed or used for the purpose of cutting.
   - Simple: Made or used for cutting things, like a sharp blade or edge.
   - _He sharpened the cutting blade of the machine before each shift._
   - _Every cutting tool must be inspected before it leaves the workshop._
14. Of a beverage: served in a half-sized measure. *(India)*
   - Simple: Used about a drink served in half the usual amount.
   - _He ordered a cutting beer to go with his light lunch._
   - _The barman poured her a cutting ale rather than the usual glass._

## Adjective

15. Ruthlessly competitive; cutthroat. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Very harsh and competitive, with no mercy shown to rivals.

## Origin

Formed from the verb "cut" combined with the suffix "-ing".

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/cutting (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).