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

Mr Streeting says these insights have "fed into" government health plans to "speed up cancer diagnoses and deliver cutting edge treatments to the NHS front line quicker".

From BBC

One of the toughest items to track down was the Oscar awarded to editor Verna Fields, whose taut cutting built the film’s suspense.

From Los Angeles Times

Each state, even each district, was left to invent its own approach — tallying debts, cutting off charges or swapping hot meals for cheaper alternatives.

From Salon

The Conservatives said ministers were "tinkering around the edges" of the issue and were not serious about cutting the number of people arriving in the UK.

From BBC

However, it would make the event more expensive to set up, more divisive and - in effectively cutting itself off from the rest of rugby - a less attractive proposition for many.

From BBC

Related Words

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