cutoff

[ kuht-awf, -of ]

/ ˈkʌtˌɔf, -ˌɒf /

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See synonyms for cutoff on Thesaurus.com

noun

an act or instance of cutting off.

something that cuts off.

a road, passage, etc., that leaves another, usually providing a shortcut: Let's take the cutoff to Baltimore.

a new and shorter channel formed in a river by the water cutting across a bend in its course.

a point, time, or stage serving as the limit beyond which something is no longer effective, applicable, or possible.

cutoffs, Also cut-offs . shorts made by cutting the legs off a pair of trousers, especially jeans, above the knees and often leaving the cut edges ragged.

Accounting. a selected point at which records are considered complete for the purpose of settling accounts, taking inventory, etc.

Baseball. an infielder's interception of a ball thrown from the outfield in order to relay it to home plate or keep a base runner from advancing.

Machinery. arrest of the steam moving the pistons of an engine, usually occurring before the completion of a stroke.

Electronics. (in a vacuum tube) the minimum grid potential preventing an anode current.

Rocketry. the termination of propulsion, either by shutting off the propellant flow or by stopping the combustion of the propellant.

adjective

being or constituting the limit or ending: a cutoff date for making changes.

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Origin of cutoff

First recorded in 1735–45; noun use of verb phrase cut off

Words nearby cutoff

cutline, cutlips minnow, cut loose, cut nail, cut no ice, cutoff, cut off one's nose to spite one's face, cut-offs, cut off with a shilling, cut of one's jib, cut one's losses

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use cutoff in a sentence

Wallen, while no doubt enjoying the perks of stardom, still appears to be a regular dude with his cutoff shirts, mullet and rebellious yet laid-back attitude.
You might know Morgan Wallen because of the SNL incident. But he’s poised to be the future of country music.|Emily Yahr|January 21, 2021|Washington Post
When people are trying to lose weight, they often invent or adopt rules to keep them from eating — and a common one is to not eat after dark, or to have a cutoff time for eating.
Five myths about nutrition|Jessica Wilson|December 31, 2020|Washington Post
The ministry said the cutoff would include a “just transition” for those workers and the regions affected.
The EU’s biggest oil producer will end extraction by 2050—and exploration is canceled as of now|kdunn6|December 4, 2020|Fortune
Matthew Hertz, co-founder of logistics consulting firm second Second Marathon, said that he’s advising startups to consider December 11 as the cutoff for when orders need to be placed by, if they want customers to receive it by December 25.
DTC brands are preparing for nightmare holiday shipping delays and out of stocks|Anna Hensel|December 4, 2020|Digiday

Existing developers can still enroll after that cutoff, but things get a bit more complicated, with reduced fees generally kicking in midway through the next fiscal calendar month.
Developers can now enroll in Apple’s ‘Small Business Program’ for reduced App Store fees|Greg Kumparak|December 3, 2020|TechCrunch
Once again Russia brandishes the threat of a gas cutoff to squeeze Kiev and coerce Europe.
In Ukraine, Winter Is Coming|Anna Nemtsova|September 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Some of the ranges gave a height requirement in lieu of an age cutoff.
Where Kids as Young as 5 Learn to Shoot Automatic Weapons|Brandy Zadrozny|September 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As far as underage attendees, Dottley remains adamant that 18 was the cutoff point.
Inside Hollywood’s ‘Twink’ Pool Parties|Scott Bixby|April 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Heidi Klum wore a pair of the Gizeh sandals with cutoff jean shorts, and Ashley Olsen wore them just about everywhere.
Summer 2013: The Season We All Started Wearing Birkenstocks Again|Isabel Wilkinson|August 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
U.S. policy stipulates that military coups trigger an automatic cutoff of bi-lateral military assistance.
Egypt: That Was A Coup|Ali Gharib|July 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
There is a complete crack from this so-called cutoff to the top right of the windshield right above the view line of the driver.
Warren Commission (2 of 26): Hearings Vol. II (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
I saw him coming kind of toward me around that cutoff through there, and he never did look at me.
Warren Commission (3 of 26): Hearings Vol. III (of 15)|The President's Commission on the Assassination of President Kennedy
The distortions visible on Mars, as well as the one from Mercury before its cutoff, had been worked out directionally.
The Secret of the Ninth Planet|Donald Allen Wollheim
Never mind whether she can or not, truly; but that does not bind us down from taking the cutoff.
The Red River Half-Breed|Gustave Aimard
But Ross refused to accept the cutoff this time, determined to pull Ashe back into the familiar world of the here and now.
Key Out of Time|Andre Alice Norton

British Dictionary definitions for cutoff

cut off

verb (tr, adverb)

to remove by cutting

to intercept or interrupt something, esp a telephone conversation

to discontinue the supply ofto cut off the water

to bring to an end

to deprive of rights; disinheritshe was cut off without a penny

to sever or separateshe was cut off from her family

to occupy a position so as to prevent or obstruct (a retreat or escape)

noun cutoff

the act of cutting off; limit or termination
(as modifier)the cutoff point

mainly US a route or way that is shorter than the usual one; short cut

a device to terminate the flow of a fluid in a pipe or duct

Also called: offcut the remnant of metal, plastic, etc, left after parts have been machined or trimmed

electronics

the value of voltage, frequency, etc, below or above which an electronic device cannot function efficiently
(as modifier)cutoff voltage

a channel cutting across the neck of a meander, which leaves an oxbow lake

another name for oxbow (def. 2)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with cutoff

cut off

Separate from others, isolate, as in The construction debris cut off the workers from the canteen, or The new sect was cut off from the church. [Late 1500s]

Stop suddenly, discontinue, as in He quickly cut off the engine, or The drama was cut off by a news flash about tornado warnings. [Late 1500s]

Shut off, bar, Their phone was cut off when they didn't pay the bill, or Tom's father threatened to cut off his allowance. [c. 1600]

Interrupt the course or passage of, intercept, as in The operator cut us off, or The shortstop cut off the throw to the plate. [Late 1500s]

Also, cut off with a shilling or cent. Disinherit, as in Grandfather cut him off with a shilling. This usage dates from the early 1700s; the purpose of bequeathing one shilling (a small sum) was to indicate that the heir had not been overlooked but was intentionally being disinherited. In America cent was substituted from about 1800 on.