cutting

[kuht-ing]

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that cuts.

2. something cut, cut off, or cut out.

3. Horticulture.,  a piece, as a root, stem, or leaf, cut from a plant and used for propagation.

4. something made by cutting, as a recording.

5. a form of repetitive self-injury in which a person deliberately cuts the skin, as to cope with stress or negative emotions.

6. Manège.

   1. the removal of a specific animal from a herd of cattle, as performed by a ranch horse.

   2. a competitive exhibition in which horses demonstrate this skill.

7. Chiefly British.,  a clipping from a newspaper, magazine, etc.

8. British.,  a trenchlike excavation, especially through a hill, as one made in constructing a highway.

adjective

1. able to cut or slice.

   a cutting blade.

2. piercing, as a wind.

3. wounding the feelings severely; sarcastic.

   Synonyms: sardonic, acid, mordant, biting, caustic

4. Manège.,  relating to or noting a horse bred or trained for the ranching task of separating a specific animal from a herd of cattle, or the competitive exhibition of this skill: The last day of the rodeo was dedicated to the cutting competition and barrel racing finals.

   Champion cutting horses are bred for agility.

   The last day of the rodeo was dedicated to the cutting competition and barrel racing finals.

cutting

/ ˈkʌtɪŋ /

noun

1. a piece cut off from the main part of something

2. horticulture

   1. a method of vegetative propagation in which a part of a plant, such as a stem or leaf, is induced to form its own roots

   2. a part separated for this purpose

3. Also called (esp US and Canadian): clipping. an article, photograph, etc, cut from a newspaper or other publication

4. the editing process by which a film is cut and made

5. an excavation in a piece of high land for a road, railway, etc, enabling it to remain at approximately the same level

6. informal,  sharp-wittedness

   there is no cutting in him

7. (modifier) designed for or adapted to cutting; edged; sharp

   a cutting tool

adjective

1. keen; piercing

   a cutting wind

2. tending to hurt the feelings

   a cutting remark

Other Word Forms

• cuttingly adverb
• cuttingness noun
• noncutting adjective
• self-cutting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cutting¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; cut, -ing ¹, -ing ²

Example Sentences

The White House National Economic Council Director could bring the president’s approach to interest-rate cutting to the Fed, ANZ analysts say in a research note.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Two years before Mr. Musk had freed Twitter from bloat and mismanagement by cutting nearly four-fifths of employees and creating something that worked better.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

While cutting jobs in some departments as it adopts AI internally, HP also expects to increase investment in some areas to integrate the technology further into its product portfolio, Lores said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In the face of budget cuts, the Los Angeles Philharmonic is reducing its East Los Angeles youth orchestra program championed by outgoing star conductor Gustavo Dudamel by cutting staff and daily operations.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The thrust of the Chancellor's address will be three cuts – cutting the cost of living, cutting NHS waiting lists and cutting government debt.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• acerbic 
• barbed 
• biting 
• caustic 
• piercing 
• pointed 
• sarcastic 
• sardonic 
• scathing 
• stinging www.thesaurus.com
• trenchant