cutout
cutout Lexical Profile
cutout Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A shape, figure, or design that has been cut out of paper, cardboard, wood, or another flat material.
"The lobby of the movie theater was decorated with a life-sized cardboard cutout of the film's lead actor."
An opening or hole cut into a surface, garment, or structure.
"The carpenter made a neat circular cutout in the back of the desk so that computer cables could pass through easily."
A device that automatically interrupts an electric circuit or stops a machine when a dangerous or predetermined condition is reached.
"The portable heater is equipped with a thermal safety cutout that switches the unit off if it accidentally tips over."
An intermediary or middleman used in intelligence operations to pass information between agents while keeping their identities concealed from one another.
"In classic espionage tradecraft, the handler communicated with the foreign informant exclusively through a trusted cutout."
• adjective
Having a shape or section removed from a piece of material, or made by cutting out a shape.
"The designer's summer collection featured several evening gowns with geometric cutout details along the back."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse the solid or hyphenated noun/adjective 'cutout' (or 'cut-out') with the two-word phrasal verb 'cut out' (e.g., 'The engine cut out' or 'I cut out the coupon').
• Rhymes for cutout
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.