cutaway

[kuht-uh-wey]

noun

1. Also called cutaway coat. a man's formal daytime coat having the front portion of the skirt cut away from the waist so as to curve or slope to the tails at the back.

2. Movies, Television.

   1. a switch from one scene to another for showing simultaneous or related action, creating suspense, etc.

   2. Also called cutaway shot. a shot that abruptly introduces content, scenery, etc., away from the central action.

3. an illustration or scale model having the outer section removed to display the interior.

adjective

1. having a part cut away, as an outer section of something being illustrated so that the inside may be shown.

cutaway

/ ˈkʌtəˌweɪ /

noun

1. a man's coat cut diagonally from the front waist to the back of the knees

2. 1. a drawing or model of a machine, engine, etc, in which part of the casing is omitted to reveal the workings

   2. ( as modifier )

      a cutaway model

3. films television a shot separate from the main action of a scene, to emphasize something or to show simultaneous events

Word History and Origins

Origin of cutaway¹

First recorded in 1835–45; adj., noun use of verb phrase cut away

Example Sentences

We never see the broadcast or who is actually watching this walk, aside from a few cutaways to bored locals on the side of the road.

From Los Angeles Times

When the underage child-women chug glasses of wine, a cutaway assures us its merely grape juice.

From Los Angeles Times

Among this year's melodramatic cutaways to contestants supposedly in their hotel rooms was a clip of Charlotte reading a "Learn Welsh" book, priest Lisa praying and Keith practising his martial arts.

From BBC

Viewers then see a cutaway scene in which Kitty catches the boys together in the shower.

From Salon

The format — with its roving cameras and constant cutaway interviews — seemed like a natural choice for an athlete in the era of “30 for 30” and “The Last Dance.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cloak 
• frock 
• jacket 
• overcoat 
• raincoat 
• suit 
• tuxedo 
• windbreaker 
• wrap