Pronunciations (2)
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/ˈkʌtɪŋ/
Pronunciation notes
- General-American
- Received-Pronunciation
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ˈkʌtɪŋ
Noun
The action of the verb to cut.
Usage- Countable
- Uncountable
- Examples
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How many different cuttings can this movie undergo?
Ye ſhall not make any cuttings in your fleſh for the dead, nor print any markes vpon you: I am the Lord.
More examples (3)
The first stage of the demolition work consisted of removing, by oxy-acetylene cutting, the whole of the plate floor, cross-girders, and lattice parapets.
The first industrial use of CO₂ lasers was the cutting of plywood dye boards for the packaging industry. [...] The laser cutting process has a number of advantages over competing technologies which have ensured the growth of this branch of industry: [...]
Female genital cutting is an intentional, nonmedical modification of the female genitalia. It is commonly performed on girls between the ages of 4 and 16, although in some cases it is performed on infants as young as three months old.
A section removed from a larger whole.
Usage- Countable
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More examples (3)
[O]bſerving [...] abundance of Matter floating in the Urine like Bran, with a great Number of Recrements like Cuttings of Hair, ſome above an Inch long, which Subſtances were found in all the Water that I made in above Twelve Months; for which I could get no Remedy: I was adviſed to drink Water, which in about half a Year did intirely free me from thoſe Symptoms, [...]
I make such gelatine as above mentioned of two different qualities, [...] and I use all such hides and skins, and cuttings of hides and skins as are usually employed in manufacturing glue according to the ordinary method, and which are commonly called glue-pieces, [...]
Yet, while paper cuttings can look very modern, paper cutting as an activity has a long, rich heritage. The Chinese, who first invented paper as we know it, started cutting more than a thousand years before most Europeans had ever seen a piece of paper. The oldest extant paper cutting is a simple symmetrical circle from the sixth century that was found in a far western province of China.
A section removed from a larger whole. A newspaper clipping.
Usage- Countable
- Examples
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Extract from "Newspaper Cuttings relating to Sussex," (Sussex Archaeological Collections, 1872, pp. 140, 141.)
More examples (3)
The Witness. [After a farther inspection of the newspaper cutting.] No; it is not in that part about Weber, but here [indicating another newspaper cutting] is the agreement that Mr. Wilder was testifying about, and that has Weber's name.
Mrs. Seal wandered about with newspaper cuttings, which seemed to her either "quite splendid" or "really too bad for words." She used to paste these into books, or send them to her friends, having first drawn a broad bar in blue pencil down the margin, a proceeding which signified equally and indistinguishably the depths of her reprobation or the heights of her approval.
H.P. Lovecraft, The Case of Charles Dexter Ward Moved by some vague presentiment amidst the horrors of that period, Willett arranged with an international press-cutting bureau for accounts of notable current crimes and accidents in Prague and in eastern Transylvania; and after six months believed that he had found two very significant things amongst the multifarious items he received and had translated.
A section removed from a larger whole. A leaf, stem, branch, or root removed from a plant and cultivated to grow a new plant.
Usage- Countable
- Examples
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More examples (4)
To propagate by cuttings, is to cut off the branch or ſtem of a Plant, and to ſet it in the Earth without Roots. Strip it of leaves and branches, Plant deeper than theſe with Roots, and in a rich and moiſt ſoil, keeping it watered and ſhaded, Untill Rooted; cut off their Tops ſave Greens, as if your cutting be 12 Inches long, let 9 be under, and 3 above ground.
All the Sorts of Vines are propagated either from Layers or Cuttings, the former of which is greatly practis'd in England, but the latter is what I would recommend, as being much preferable to the other. [...] I had rather plant a good Cutting than a rooted Plant, provided it be well choſen, and there is leſs Danger of its not growing.
The method of propagating the Box is perfectly easy: it may be raised from cuttings, or from seed, or by layering. [...] For planting the cuttings, [Thomas] Hanbury says the month of August is the best time, if any rain falls.
Allison carried it all home, and then spent a long time that evening out on the back porch, wrapping up Ida's collection of rooted cuttings, each snuff tin and plastic cup in its own carefully fashioned sleeve of wet newspaper.
An abridged selection of written work, often intended for performance.
Usage- Countable
- Examples
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The actor had to make his cutting shorter to fit the audition time.
An open passage at a level lower than the surrounding terrain, dug for a canal, railway, or road to go through.
Usage- UK usage
- Countable
- Synonyms
- Antonyms
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More examples (1)
[T]he railway, however, will require a farther outlay to render it complete, though the locomotive engine has passed over every foot of ground from Liverpool to Salford. The slopes of the cuttings want dressing, and several of them want protecting with foot walls.
We flash across the level. / We thunder thro' the bridges. / We bicker down the cuttings. / We sway along the ridges.
No borrow pit excavation was necessary, and 41,000 cu. yd. were removed from cuttings by excavating machines.
More examples (1)
On the descent the line is often in cuttings; some are high, such as at Scarcroft, where a cut through firestone and fireclay was necessary, and near Bardsey, where the line threads a deep tree-lined gorge.
The editing of film or other recordings.
Usage- Uncountable
The process of bringing metals to a desired shape by chipping away the unwanted material.
Usage- Uncountable
- Examples
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Boring, drilling, milling, and turning are all different kinds of metal cutting processes.
More examples (1)
Metal-cutting tools often have two cutting edges, both of which are angled to the direction of cutting, and in round-nosed tools the inclination continuously varies [...].
The act of cutting one's own skin as a symptom of a mental disorder; self-harm.
Usage- Uncountable
- Examples
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More examples (1)
Cutting has become one of the most popular forms of self-injury, but there are others at well, and each is just as dangerous as cutting. The information here might help you recognize the signs of self-injury in others.
Adjective
That is used for cutting.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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I need some sort of cutting utensil to get through this shrink wrap.
More examples (1)
The power consumed in metal cutting is largely converted into heat near the cutting edge of the tool, and many of the economic and technical problems of machining are caused directly or indirectly by this heating action.
Piercing, sharp.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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The weather was atrocious, with bitterly cold wind and cutting sleet—rather appropriate, considering Aunt Fonteyn's temperament.
Of criticism, remarks, etc.: (potentially) hurtful; curt.
Usage- not-comparable
- Examples
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The director gave the auditioning actors cutting criticism.
[H]e concludes with this cutting remark, But Benefactors may give Money, but not grateful Minds to ſuch as receive it.
More examples (1)
Poor Betsy had often been the subject of Tommy's jokes; many a cutting remark had been made about her dress, which, though clean and whole, was always poor and old-fashioned; [...]
Of a beverage: half-sized.
Usage- India
- not-comparable
- Examples
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a cutting chai
Cutthroat; ruthlessly competitive.
Usage- not-comparable
- Obsolete
- Slang
- Examples
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[…] there are always some "free lances" who are ready to do a "cutting" trade, and thus become formidable competitors.
Adjective
(of speech) harsh or hurtful in tone or character
- Examples
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cutting remarks
edged satire
More examples (1)
a stinging comment
unpleasantly cold and damp
- Examples
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bleak winds of the North Atlantic
painful as if caused by a sharp instrument
- Examples
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a cutting wind
keen winds
More examples (6)
knifelike cold
piercing knifelike pains
piercing cold
piercing criticism
a stabbing pain
lancinating pain
Noun
the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
a part (sometimes a root or leaf or bud) removed from a plant to propagate a new plant through rooting or grafting
- Synonyms
the act of cutting something into parts
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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his cuts were skillful
his cutting of the cake made a terrible mess
a piece cut off from the main part of something
an excerpt cut from a newspaper or magazine
- Broader terms
- Examples
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he searched through piles of letters and clippings
removing parts from hard material to create a desired pattern or shape
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
the division of a deck of cards before dealing
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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he insisted that we give him the last cut before every deal
the cutting of the cards soon became a ritual
the act of penetrating or opening open with a sharp edge
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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his cut in the lining revealed the hidden jewels
the act of diluting something
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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the cutting of whiskey with water
the thinning of paint with turpentine
the act of shortening something by chopping off the ends
- Synonyms
- Broader terms
- Examples
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the barber gave him a good cut