undercut

American  

[uhn-der-kuht, uhn-der-kuht, uhn-der-kuht] / ˌʌn dərˈkʌt, ˈʌn dərˌkʌt, ˈʌn dərˌkʌt /

verb (used with object)

undercut, undercutting

1. to cut under or beneath.

2. to cut away material from so as to leave a portion overhanging, as in carving or sculpture.

3. to offer goods or services at a lower price or rate than (a competing price or rate) or than that of (a competitor).

4. to weaken or destroy the impact or effectiveness of; undermine.

5. Golf. to hit (the ball) so as to cause a backspin.

6. Tennis. to slice (the ball) using an underhand motion.

7. to cut (a sound recording) with grooves too shallow or with insufficient lateral motion of the stylus.

8. Forestry. to cut a notch in (a tree) in order to control the direction in which the tree is to fall.

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verb (used without object)

undercut, undercutting

1. to undercut material, a competitor, a ball, etc.

noun

1. a cut or a cutting away underneath.

2. a notch cut in a tree to determine the direction in which the tree is to fall and to prevent splitting.

3. a haircut for men or women in which one or both sides and often the back are shaved or cut very short, leaving longer hair at the top of the head.

   an undercut with a side part.

4. Golf. a backspin.

5. Tennis. a slice or cut made with an underhand motion.

6. Chiefly British. a tenderloin of beef including the fillet.

7. Dentistry. a tooth cavity prepared with a wide base for anchoring a filling securely.

adjective

1. having or resulting from an undercut.

undercut British  

verb

1. to charge less than (a competitor) in order to obtain trade

2. to cut away the under part of (something)

3. sport to hit (a ball) in such a way as to impart backspin

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noun

1. the act or an instance of cutting underneath

2. a part that is cut away underneath

3. a tenderloin of beef, including the fillet

4. forestry a notch cut in a tree trunk, to ensure a clean break in felling

5. sport a stroke that imparts backspin to the ball

Etymology

Origin of undercut

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English undercutten “to cut down”; under-, cut

Example Sentences

But the proposed deal has provoked anxiety among farmers who fear they will be undercut by a flow of cheaper goods from agricultural giant Brazil and its neighbors.

From Barron's

The proposed deal has provoked anxiety among farmers in Paris and Rome who fear they will be undercut by a flow of cheaper goods from agricultural giant Brazil and its neighbors.

From Barron's

Though a strong baht threatens to undermine the already-struggling tourism recovery and undercut exporters’ competitiveness abroad, analysts note that, on the flipside, the currency’s appreciation means it can withstand rate cuts.

From The Wall Street Journal

Access to so much price information could give carriers the ability to undercut competitors with razor-sharp precision.

From The Wall Street Journal

While they suggest the drug is extremely good at helping patients lose weight, they also raised new concerns about tolerability that undercut any run-up in Lilly’s stock price.

From Barron's

Related Words

• destabilize
• diminish
• lessen
• thwart
• undermine