cut

• verb (cutting; past and past part. cut) 1 make an opening, incision, or wound in (something) with a sharp implement. 2 shorten or divide into pieces with a sharp implement. 3 make, form, or remove with a sharp implement. 4 make or design (a garment) in a particular way: an impeccably cut suit. 5 reduce the amount or quantity of. 6 end or interrupt the provision of (a supply). 7 (of a line) cross or intersect (another line). 8 stop filming or recording. 9 move to another shot in a film. make (a sound recording). divide a pack of playing cards by lifting a portion from the top. strike or kick (a ball) quickly and abruptly. chiefly N. Amer. absent oneself deliberately from: Rod was cutting class. chiefly N. Amer. dilute or adulterate (alcohol or a drug) by mixing it with another substance.

• noun 1 an act of cutting. 2 a result of cutting: a cut on his jaw. 3 a reduction in amount or size. 4 the way or style in which a garment or the hair is cut. 5 a piece of meat cut from a carcass. 6 informal a share of profits. 7 a version of a film after editing: the director’s cut.

PHRASES be cut out for (or to be) informal have exactly the right qualities for a particular role. cut your coat according to your cloth proverb undertake only what you have the money or ability to do and no more. a cut above informal noticeably superior to. cut and dried (of a situation) completely settled. originally used to distinguish the herbs of herbalists’ shops from growing herbs. cut and run informal make a speedy departure from a difficult situation rather than deal with it. originally a nautical phrase, meaning cut the anchor cable because of an emergency and make sail immediately. cut and thrust a difficult or competitive atmosphere or environment. originally a fencing phrase. cut both ways 1 (of a point or statement) serve both sides of an argument. 2 (of an action or process) have both good and bad effects. cut corners do something in a perfunctory way to save time or money. cut a dash be stylish or impressive. cut dead completely ignore (someone). be cut from the same cloth be of the same nature. cut in 1 interrupt. 2 pull in too closely in front of another vehicle. 3 (of a motor or other device) begin operating automatically. 4 informal include (someone) in a deal and give them a share of the profits. cut it informal, chiefly N. Amer. come up to expectations. shortened form of the idiom cut the mustard. cut it out informal stop it. cut the mustard informal reach the required standard. cut no ice informal have no influence or effect. cut off 1 block the usual means of access to (a place). 2 deprive of a supply of power, water, etc. 3 break a telephone connection with (someone). 4 disinherit. cut out 1 exclude (someone). 2 (of an engine) suddenly stop operating. cut a (or the) rug informal, chiefly N. Amer. dance. cut one’s teeth acquire initial experience of an activity. cut a tooth (of a baby) have a tooth appear through the gum. cut up informal (of a driver) overtake (someone) and pull in too closely. cut up rough Brit. informal behave in an aggressive or awkward way.

ORIGIN probably Germanic.

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cross-cut

• verb 1 cut (wood or stone) across its main grain or axis. 2 alternate (one sequence) with another when editing a film.

cold cuts

• plural noun slices of cold cooked meats.

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