cut
cut Lexical Profile
cut Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An opening, wound, or incision made in skin or another surface by a sharp edge or instrument.
"He cleaned the small cut on his finger and covered it with an adhesive bandage."
A reduction or decrease in amount, price, funding, or personnel.
"The municipal council voted against any further cuts to the public library budget."
A specific piece or section of meat severed from a carcass.
"Slow braising is an ideal cooking method for tougher cuts of beef."
The style, fashion, or manner in which hair, clothing, or a gemstone is shaped and tailored.
"The classic cut of the tailored wool coat never goes out of style."
An individual share or percentage of profits, earnings, or proceeds, or a particular edited version of a film.
"The literary agent receives a standard fifteen percent cut of all book royalties."
• verb
To divide, penetrate, slice, or sever something using a sharp-edged tool or instrument.
"Please use the bread knife to cut the sourdough loaf into even slices."
To reduce the amount, size, price, or duration of something.
"The airline announced plans to cut domestic fares during the off-peak autumn months."
To shorten or neaten hair, grass, fingernails, or plants by clipping or shearing.
"He usually cuts the front lawn on Saturday mornings before the weather gets too warm."
To delete, omit, or edit out a portion of a text, film, or broadcast, or to terminate a supply or connection.
"The editor asked the author to cut two chapters to improve the pacing of the novel."
To move or cross briskly and directly through an area or in front of someone.
"We decided to cut across the campus quad so we would not be late for the lecture."
• adjective
Divided, trimmed, shaped, or severed with a sharp instrument.
"She placed a vase of freshly cut flowers on the dining room table."
Reduced in price, budget, length, or scope.
"The bookstore is selling last season's bestsellers at sharply cut prices."
North American Having prominent, well-defined muscles with very little subcutaneous fat.
"After months of rigorous training and strict dieting, the gymnast looked remarkably cut."
Word Nuance & Usage
As an irregular verb, 'cut' remains invariant across its base form, past tense, and past participle ('I cut', 'I cut yesterday', 'I have cut').
• Rhymes for cut
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in Middle English as 'cutten', the word is likely of North Germanic origin, related to Old Norse 'kuti' (a small knife) and dialectal Swedish 'kåta' (to whittle).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.