cutting

[ kuht-ing ]

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that cuts.
2. something cut, cut off, or cut out.
3. Horticulture. a piece, as a root, stem, or leaf, cut from a plant and used for propagation.
4. something made by cutting, as a recording.
5. a form of repetitive self-injury in which a person deliberately cuts the skin, as to cope with stress or negative emotions.
6. Manège.
   1. the removal of a specific animal from a herd of cattle, as performed by a ranch horse.
   2. a competitive exhibition in which horses demonstrate this skill.
7. Chiefly British. a clipping from a newspaper, magazine, etc.
8. British. a trenchlike excavation, especially through a hill, as one made in constructing a highway.

adjective

1. able to cut or slice:

   a cutting blade.

2. piercing, as a wind.
3. wounding the feelings severely; sarcastic.

   Synonyms: sardonic, acid, mordant, biting, caustic

4. Manège. relating to or noting a horse bred or trained for the ranching task of separating a specific animal from a herd of cattle, or the competitive exhibition of this skill: The last day of the rodeo was dedicated to the cutting competition and barrel racing finals.

   Champion cutting horses are bred for agility.

   The last day of the rodeo was dedicated to the cutting competition and barrel racing finals.

cutting

/ ˈkʌtɪŋ /

noun

1. a piece cut off from the main part of something
2. horticulture
   1. a method of vegetative propagation in which a part of a plant, such as a stem or leaf, is induced to form its own roots
   2. a part separated for this purpose
3. Also called (esp US and Canadian)clipping an article, photograph, etc, cut from a newspaper or other publication
4. the editing process by which a film is cut and made
5. an excavation in a piece of high land for a road, railway, etc, enabling it to remain at approximately the same level
6. informal.
   sharp-wittedness

   there is no cutting in him

7. modifier designed for or adapted to cutting; edged; sharp

   a cutting tool

adjective

1. keen; piercing

   a cutting wind

2. tending to hurt the feelings

   a cutting remark

Derived Forms

• ˈcuttingly, adverb

Other Words From

• cut·ting·ly adverb
• cut·ting·ness noun
• non·cut·ting adjective noun
• self-cut·ting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cutting¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; cut, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

Lamirand took steps to protect her mental health by cutting social media ties with people whose values aren’t aligned with hers.

From Los Angeles Times

The tactics used at the time — deforestation and afforestation, cutting off water supplies, raids on Palestinian communities — are still being applied today, with the addition of 21st-century weapons and a far more sophisticated state apparatus.

From Salon

An amateur magician himself, Carson possessed a quick and cutting wit, but in keeping it restrained, he clarified his greatest gift.

From New York Times

Trump has called for cutting regulations that make it more difficult to build, but many of those rules are the domain of local authorities, giving the federal government limited options to change course, Fairweather said.

From Los Angeles Times

Northumbria University said it had proposed cutting two joint degrees from next September - business with Spanish, and business with French.

From BBC

Related Words

• acerbic
• barbed
• biting
• caustic
• piercing
• pointed
• sarcastic
• sardonic
• scathing
• stinging
• trenchant