cutting

American  

[kuht-ing] / ˈkʌt ɪŋ /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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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

Etymology

Origin of cutting

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

Example Sentences

Ford employs AI for quality inspections, aiming to reduce warranty expenses, and for design simulations, cutting time from 15 hours to 10 seconds.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

I’m cutting up a bunch of garlic, I’m using a bunch of olive oil, and I’m using a bunch of different seasonings, and whatever happens, happens and in the end, it’ll be tasty.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

It sounded to Jackson as though the trial court was cutting counsel off, perhaps mistakenly saying the work had already been done.

From Slate • Apr. 10, 2026

Across the region, interest-rate cutting cycles are under way.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

They flew over them and ahead, cutting them off.

From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova

Related Words

• acerbic
• barbed
• biting
• caustic
• piercing
• pointed
• sarcastic
• sardonic
• scathing
• stinging
• trenchant