cutter

American  

[kuht-er] / ˈkʌt ər /

noun

cutters plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• cutters
  plural

Etymology

Origin of cutter

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cutter cutters

Leading off the sixth inning, Ohtani pounced on a cutter that drifted toward the heart of the plate.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2026

However, out on the disputed reefs, Vietnam has gone on a dredging spree, using the same powerful cutter suction ships as China.

From BBC ● Jun. 3, 2026

His brother Manoj Singh, a stone cutter, had been hoping to follow him to sea -- a plan he has since abandoned.

From Barron's ● May 25, 2026

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

Before the free relay, Ruth brought Lindsey and me plates of lime and orange Jell-O cut with a star-shaped cookie cutter.

From "The Miseducation of Cameron Post" by emily m. danforth

Tools ranging from disk cutters to saws and handheld angle grinders are used when conducting technical rescues.

From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026

Navy to the National Science Foundation are requesting funds in the 2027 fiscal year budget for cargo ships, vehicle carriers, cutters and a research vessel.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 10, 2026

Yamamoto reached into his five-pitch repertoire Saturday, mixing in six fastballs, eight splitters, five sinkers, four cutters, four curveballs and three sliders.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 21, 2026

Building on a $198 million contract it awarded Shield AI in 2024, the Coast Guard said it plans to add V-BATs to a dozen cutters, plus more on land near the U.S. southern border.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 30, 2025

Taking the east fence line, I yelled at John to keep his eye out for any cutters.

From "Worth" by A. LaFaye

Related Words

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• blade
• dagger
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