cut
cut
Pronunciation
/kʌt/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds in each syllable:
/k/: Voiceless velar stop
/ʌ/: Near-open central unrounded vowel
/t/: Voiceless alveolar stop
Word Form Variations
Verb:
Base Form/Present Tense (Singular & Plural): cut (I cut, you cut, he/she/it cuts, we cut, they cut)
Past Tense: cut (I cut, you cut, he/she/it cut, we cut, they cut) - Note: The past tense is the same as the base form.
Past Participle: cut (e.g., I have cut, it was cut) - Note: The past participle is also the same as the base form.
Present Participle/Gerund: cutting (e.g., I am cutting, cutting is fun)
Noun:
Singular: cut (e.g., a small cut, a bad cut)
Plural: cuts (e.g., several cuts, cuts and bruises)
Adjective:
Base Form: cut (e.g., cut flowers, a cut diamond, cut prices) - Used to describe something that has been cut or is in a reduced state.
Other related forms and phrasal verbs (often functioning as different parts of speech in context):
Cutter: A person or tool that cuts.
Cutting: (as a noun) The act of cutting, or a piece of something that has been cut off (e.g., a plant cutting, hair cuttings).
Uncut: (adjective) Not cut.
Recut: (verb) To cut again.
Miscut: (verb) To cut incorrectly.
Undercut: (verb) To cut beneath or to offer a lower price.
Cut back: (phrasal verb) To reduce something.
Cut off: (phrasal verb) To separate, disconnect, or interrupt.
Cut out: (phrasal verb) To remove, omit, or stop doing something.
Cut down: (phrasal verb) To reduce, or to fell (a tree).
Cutting-edge: (adjective) Innovative, advanced.
Cutthroat: (adjective/noun) Ruthless, or a person who is ruthless.
Half-cut: (adjective, informal) Slightly drunk.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
To divide, separate, or open something with a sharp instrument.
Synonyms: slice, sever, cleave, incise, gash, slash, chop
Antonyms: join, unite, mend, patch, repair, combine, fuse
To reduce the size, amount, or intensity of something; to shorten or diminish.
Synonyms: decrease, lower, curtail, reduce, prune, trim, abridge, shorten
Antonyms: increase, extend, enlarge, lengthen, amplify, raise, expand
To intentionally stop or discontinue an action, supply, or connection.
Synonyms: cease, halt, terminate, discontinue, interrupt, stop, end, disconnect
Antonyms: continue, begin, start, initiate, maintain, connect, resume
To form or shape something by removing material.
Synonyms: carve, sculpt, fashion, chisel, hew, trim, tailor
Antonyms: add, build, construct, assemble, mold (in the sense of adding material)
To cross or pass through something quickly or directly.
Synonyms: traverse, cross, intersect, bypass, shortcut, go through
Antonyms: circle, avoid, detour, circumvent, bypass (in the sense of going around)
To make an incision in one's skin, often accidentally.
Synonyms: gash, scratch, lacerate, nick, graze
Antonyms: heal, mend (referring to the wound itself)
Noun
An incision or wound made by a sharp object.
Synonyms: gash, laceration, incision, slit, nick, scratch, wound
Antonyms: bruise, contusion, unmarred skin, healing wound
A reduction in quantity, amount, or size.
Synonyms: decrease, reduction, curtailment, drop, decline, discount, markdown
Antonyms: increase, rise, expansion, growth, raise, addition
A specific style or shape in which something is made or tailored, especially clothing or hair.
Synonyms: style, fashion, form, shape, design, trim
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this sense, as it refers to a characteristic)
A portion or share of something, often profits or gains.
Synonyms: share, portion, slice, percentage, commission, divvy
Antonyms: entirety, whole, total, full amount
A prepared section of something, such as a piece of meat from an animal.
Synonyms: joint, portion, piece, slab, steak
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this sense)
A sudden, sharp turn or movement.
Synonyms: turn, swerve, dodge, twist, juke (informal)
Antonyms: straight path, smooth motion
Adjective
Having been divided or separated by a sharp instrument; processed or shaped by cutting.
Synonyms: severed, sliced, divided, detached, trimmed, fashioned, carved
Antonyms: uncut, whole, joined, raw (for materials not yet processed)
Reduced in amount, size, or price.
Synonyms: discounted, reduced, lowered, decreased, curtailed
Antonyms: increased, raised, full-price, extended
Sharp or incisive in nature, often referring to remarks or wit.
Synonyms: biting, incisive, keen, piercing, sarcastic, sharp, harsh
Antonyms: mild, gentle, blunt, bland, dull, pleasant
Referring to something that has been edited or abridged.
Synonyms: abridged, edited, censored, shortened, condensed
Antonyms: uncut, unabridged, complete, extended
Examples of Use
Books:
"The doctor quickly made a cut with the scalpel, precise and efficient." (Example: The House of God by Samuel Shem, where medical procedures are a key theme)
"He had to cut his losses and sell the failing business before it consumed all his savings." (Figurative use, common in business-themed novels, e.g., a financial thriller)
"Her words were like a sharp cut, leaving a stinging wound on his pride." (Figurative use, often found in character-driven dramas or psychological novels, e.g., a literary fiction work exploring relationships)
Newspapers:
"Government Announces Deep Cuts to Public Spending" (Headline, The New York Times, often seen during austerity measures)
"New Film Festival Cuts Through the Noise with Bold Selections" (Review, The Guardian, describing a festival's impact or curation)
"Police cut off access to the highway after the accident." (News report, Daily Nation, reporting on emergency responses)
Online Publications:
"How to Cut Down on Food Waste in Your Kitchen" (Article title, Bon Appétit online, a common lifestyle or sustainability topic)
"Tesla's Cybertruck Could Be a Game-Cut for Electric Vehicles" (Typo/misuse of "changer," but illustrates a common intent; however, a correct use might be "Tesla to cut prices in competitive market" - TechCrunch)
"The algorithm now has the power to cut users off from their communities without clear recourse." (Opinion piece, Wired, discussing social media platforms)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film/TV: "And... cut!" (Director's instruction on a film set, heard in behind-the-scenes documentaries or meta-narratives like Tropic Thunder)
Music: "They released a 'director's cut' of the album with bonus tracks and extended versions." (Music news/album review on platforms like Pitchfork or Rolling Stone)
Video Games: "You've got to cut them off at the pass before they reach the objective!" (In-game dialogue in a strategy or action game, e.g., Call of Duty or Red Dead Redemption 2)
Podcasts: "We had to cut that segment because it ran too long for the episode." (Podcaster discussing editing process, often heard on behind-the-scenes or Q&A episodes)
Streaming Services (Netflix, Hulu, etc.): "The show received a lot of criticism for its abrupt cut to commercial breaks." (Viewer review on social media or dedicated forums like Reddit, discussing production choices)
General Public Discourse:
"Can you please cut the grass this weekend?" (Everyday request, common in household chores)
"Let's cut to the chase – what's the real problem here?" (Idiomatic expression, often used in direct conversations)
"He got a really bad cut on his arm from the fall." (Describing an injury, common in casual conversation)
"They decided to cut ties after years of a strained friendship." (Figurative use, common in discussions about relationships)
"I need to cut down on sugar if I want to be healthier." (Personal resolution, common in health and wellness discussions)
10 Famous Quotes Using Cut
"The cruelest lies are often told in silence. A man may have started a movement, a religion, a way of life, and then, finding it to his advantage to cut off open discussion, he will become a tyrant." (Robert A. Heinlein, Stranger in a Strange Land)
"You can't cut down the same tree twice." (Yogi Berra)
"The truth will cut you, but it will also set you free." (Adapted from various philosophical sayings, often attributed generally to "truth")
"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." (Oscar Wilde, Lady Windermere's Fan – while "cut" isn't in this specific quote, it embodies a contrasting perspective that often leads to metaphorical "cuts" in perception or social standing)
"A lean compromise is better than a fat lawsuit." (George Herbert – this quote is about avoiding conflict and "cutting" losses, thus metaphorical)
"When you cut into the present, the future leaks out." (William S. Burroughs, Naked Lunch)
"Don't cut off your nose to spite your face." (Proverb, meaning don't harm yourself in an attempt to harm someone else)
"The pen is mightier than the sword." (Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Richelieu; or the Conspiracy – this implies that words can "cut" deeper or have more lasting impact than physical force)
"You must cut out the dead wood." (A common metaphorical phrase in business and management, attributed to various leaders)
"If you want to make enemies, try to change something." (Woodrow Wilson – implies that change will inevitably "cut" against established norms or interests)
Etymology
The word "cut" is quite old in the English language, and its exact beginnings are a bit hazy, like trying to trace a single drop of water in a flowing river. However, we can track it back to the Middle English period (around 1150-1500).
The earliest known uses of "cut" were as a verb, meaning to "make an incision in something with a sharp tool" or to "divide into two or more parts using an edged instrument." Think of literally cutting something with a knife or an axe.
It seems to have largely replaced older English words for similar actions, like "carve" and "shear." This suggests that "cut" might have been a more specific or perhaps newer, more direct way of expressing this action.
Where did it come from before Middle English? That's where it gets a little uncertain for linguists. It's thought to have North Germanic origins, with similar words found in Old Norse (like "kytja" or "kutta") and other Scandinavian languages. It might even be related to a Proto-Germanic word that possibly meant "meat" (as in, a "cut-off piece of meat").
So, imagine early people using sharp tools to prepare food or materials, and this sound or action leading to a word that eventually evolved into our modern "cut." It's a word that truly gets to the point!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Cut
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "cut":
Cut to the chase: To get to the most important part quickly.
Cut corners: To do something in the easiest, fastest, or cheapest way, often by sacrificing quality.
Cut it out! (Informal): Stop doing that!
Cut a deal: To make an agreement or arrangement.
Cut and dried: Simple, straightforward, and already decided.
Cut from the same cloth: Very similar in character or nature.
Cut the mustard: To meet the required standard; to be good enough.
Cut no ice (with someone): To have no effect or influence on someone.
A cut above: Superior to others.
Cut your losses: To stop doing something that is unsuccessful so that you do not lose any more money, time, etc.
Cut somebody some slack: To be less critical of someone and allow them to do something wrong without being punished.
Cut teeth on: To gain initial experience in a particular field or activity.
Cut your own throat: To do something that will cause your own failure or ruin.
To cut ties: To end a relationship or connection.
Cut a long story short: To tell the main points of a story without too much detail.
Cut (someone) down to size: To make someone realize they are not as important or impressive as they think.
Cut a rug: (Informal, dated) To dance.
Cut and run: To leave quickly and suddenly, especially to avoid a difficult situation.
The deepest cut: The most painful or damaging insult or injury.
To get a raw cut: To receive an unfair portion or deal.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of cut from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
