- 1
[transitive, intransitive] to make an opening or a wound in something, especially with a sharp tool such as a knife or scissors cut something She cut her finger on a piece of glass. cut yourself He cut himself (= his face) shaving. cut something + adj. She had fallen and cut her head open. cut through something You need a powerful saw to cut through metal. (figurative) The canoe cut through the water.
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remove with knife -
2
[transitive] to remove something or a part of something, using a knife, etc. cut something (from something) He cut four thick slices from the loaf. a bunch of cut flowers cut somebody something I cut them all a piece of birthday cake. cut something for somebody I cut a piece of birthday cake for them all.
- 3 [transitive] to divide something into two or more pieces with a knife, etc. cut something Don't cut the string; untie the knots. cut something in/into something He cut the loaf into thick slices. The bus was cut in two by the train. Now cut the tomatoes in half. shape/form
- 4 [transitive] cut something (in something) to make or form something by removing material with a knife, etc. The climbers cut steps in the ice. Workmen cut a hole in the pipe. hair/nails/grass, etc.
- 5 [transitive] to make something shorter by cutting cut something to cut your hair/nails to cut the grass/lawn/hedge cut something + adj. He's had his hair cut really short. release
- 6 [transitive] to allow someone to escape from somewhere by cutting the rope, object, etc., that is holding them cut somebody (from something) The injured driver had to be cut from the wreckage. + somebody + adj. Two survivors were cut free after being trapped for twenty minutes. clothing
- 7
[transitive, usually passive] cut something + adj. to design and make a piece of clothing in a particular way The swimsuit was cut high in the leg.
- 8 [intransitive] to be capable of cutting This knife won't cut.
- 9 [intransitive] to be capable of being cut Sandstone cuts easily. reduce
- 10 [transitive] to reduce something by removing a part of it cut something to cut prices/taxes/spending/production Buyers will bargain hard to cut the cost of the house they want. cut something by… His salary has been cut by ten percent. cut something (from…) (to…) Could you cut your essay from 5,000 to 3,000 words? remove
- 11 [transitive] cut something (from something) to remove something from something This scene was cut from the final version of the movie. computing
- 12
[intransitive, transitive] cut (something) to delete (= remove) part of a text on a computer screen in order to place it somewhere else You can cut and paste between different programs.
- 13 [transitive] cut something (informal) used to tell someone to stop doing something Cut the chatter and get on with your work! end
- 14 [transitive] cut something to completely end a relationship or all communication with someone synonym sever She has cut all ties with her family. He has refused to cut links with these companies. in movie/TV
- 15 [transitive] cut something to prepare a movie or tape by removing parts of it or putting them in a different order synonym edit see director's cut
- 16 [intransitive] (usually used in orders) to stop filming or recording The director shouted “Cut!”
- 17
[intransitive] cut (from something) to something (in movies, radio, or television) to move quickly from one scene to another The scene cuts from the bedroom to the street.
- 18 [transitive] cut something (informal) to stay away from a class that you should go to He's always cutting class. synonym skip upset
- 19 [transitive] cut somebody to hurt someone emotionally His cruel remarks cut her deeply. in card games
- 20 [intransitive, transitive] cut (something) to lift and turn up a deck of playing card S in order to decide who is to play first, etc. Let's cut for dealer. geometry
- 21 [transitive] cut something (of a line) to cross another line The line cuts the circle at two points. a tooth
- 22
[transitive] cut a tooth to have a new tooth beginning to appear through the gum When did she cut her first tooth? see tooth
- 23 [transitive] cut a disk, etc. to make a recording of music on a record, CD, etc. The Beatles cut their first album in 1962. drug
- 24 [transitive] cut something (with something) to mix an illegal drug such as heroin with another substance Thesauruscut
- slash
- cut something back
- scale something back
- streamline
- downsize
- cut to reduce something, especially an amount of money that is demanded, spent, earned, etc. or the size of a business:The President has promised to cut taxes significantly. Most small business owners work hard to cut costs. His salary has been cut by ten percent. Could you cut your essay from 5,000 to 3,000 words?
- slash [often passive] (somewhat informal) (often used in newspapers) to reduce something by a large amount:Prices have been slashed in the clearance sale.
- cut something back/cut back on something to reduce something, especially an amount of money or business:We had to cut back on production.
- scale something back (especially business) to reduce something, especially an amount of money or business:The IMF has scaled back its growth forecasts for the next decade.
- streamline (business) to make changes to a business or system, in order to make it more efficient, especially by spending less money.
- downsize (business) to make a company or organization smaller by reducing the number of jobs in it, in order to reduce costs. Downsize is often used by people who want to avoid saying more obvious words like “fire” or “lay off” because they sound too negative.
- to cut/slash/cut back on/scale back/streamline production
- to cut/slash/cut back on/scale back spending
- to cut/slash/cut back on jobs
- to cut/slash/downsize the workforce
- to cut/slash prices/taxes/the budget/the cost of something
- to cut something/slash something/cut something back drastically
verb jump to other results
NAmE//kʌt//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they cut he / she / it cuts
past simple cut
-ing form cutting
to make a quick or sudden escape
to (not) be as good as is expected or needed He won't cut it as a professional singer. Phrasal Verbsbe cut out forcut acrosscut awaycut backcut downcut incut offcut outcut throughcut up
Check pronunciation: cut