cutter

American  

[kuht-er] / ˈkʌt ər /

noun

1. a person who cuts, especially as a job, as one who cuts fabric for garments.

2. a machine, tool, or other device for cutting.

3. Nautical.

   1. a single-masted sailing vessel, very similar to a sloop but having its mast set somewhat farther astern, about two-fifths of the way aft measured on the water line.

   2. a ship's boat having double-banked oars and one or two lugsails.

4. Also called revenue cutter.  a lightly armed government vessel used to prevent smuggling and enforce the customs regulations.

5. a person who repeatedly inflicts self-injury by cutting the skin, as to cope with negative emotions.

6. a person employed as a film editor.

7. a small, light sleigh, usually single-seated and pulled by one horse.

8. Also called rubber.  a brick suitable for cutting and rubbing.

9. (in U.S. government grading of beef )

   1. a low-quality grade of beef between utility and canner.

   2. beef of this grade, mostly used in processed beef products, as sausage.

10. Baseball. cut fastball.

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adjective

1. (in U.S. government grading of beef ) graded between utility and canner.

cutter British  

/ ˈkʌtə /

noun

1. a person or thing that cuts, esp a person who cuts cloth for clothing

2. a sailing boat with its mast stepped further aft so as to have a larger foretriangle than that of a sloop

3. a ship's boat, powered by oars or sail, for carrying passengers or light cargo

4. a small lightly armed boat, as used in the enforcement of customs regulations

5. a pig weighing between 68 and 82 kg, from which fillets and larger joints are cut

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Etymology

Origin of cutter

First recorded in 1375–1425; Middle English kittere, cuttere; cut, -er ¹

Example Sentences

Q: We are all inundated with the cookie cutter “60/40” allocation formula… I believe a better model includes two variables which are unique to each investor: their risk tolerance and net annual expenses.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026

Bureau of Prisons officials then detained Anderson and searched his bag, where they found a large "barbeque type fork" with two prongs and a tool that resembles a pizza cutter.

From BBC • Jan. 29, 2026

This matters because the cutter and battleship could divert resources and focus from crucial priorities such as more stealthy submarines.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 25, 2025

To mimic the shape of classic Cheeze-It’s, Markle uses a simple scalloped pastry cutter — available at Williams Sonoma for $20 — to cut the cracker dough into even 1 1/4-inch squares.

From Salon • Sep. 6, 2025

All she has to do is cross the tiled floor and turn left and there Papa will be behind the counter, standing at his key cutter.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

Related Words

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• machete
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• sword