Cuts
kʌts
Definitions
4 meaningsTo penetrate or divide something with a sharp instrument or object.
kʌts
To use a sharp object to divide or penetrate something.
She cuts the cake into even slices.
💡 Simply: Like when you use scissors to make a straight line through paper. You're cutting!
👶 For kids: To use a sharp thing like a knife or scissors to split something apart.
More Examples
The tailor carefully cuts the fabric.
The surgeon cut into the patient's abdomen.
How It's Used
"He cuts the bread with a knife."
"The surgeon cuts into the skin."
To diminish, shorten, or lessen something; to remove or eliminate.
kʌts
To reduce or shorten something.
The director cuts several minutes from the film.
💡 Simply: When you take away something like shortening a movie. The editor cuts the film to make it shorter.
👶 For kids: To make something shorter or smaller, like when you take some candy away.
More Examples
The company cuts spending to increase profits.
The editor cuts out the unnecessary parts of the article.
How It's Used
"The company cuts costs by reducing staff."
"The editor cuts scenes from the movie."
An incision, wound, or a reduction.
kʌts
An act of cutting; a wound or incision.
The artist made a precise cut.
💡 Simply: When you get hurt with a knife or you remove something. Like a cut in your skin when you get hurt, or a cut in a budget when spending is reduced.
👶 For kids: A mark on your skin when you get hurt, or when you take something away.
More Examples
The doctor stitched the cut.
There were budget cuts across departments.
How It's Used
"He received several cuts from the accident."
"The cut in the fabric was noticeable."
A piece of meat.
kʌts
The butcher showed different cuts of meat
💡 Simply: Specific parts of meat from an animal that are cooked in different ways. For example, a T-bone steak is a cut of meat.
👶 For kids: The different parts of meat that you can eat.
More Examples
We need different cuts of meat for the barbecue
The chef prepared several cuts of meat.
How It's Used
"The butcher showed different cuts of meat"
"We offer several cuts of steak on our menu."
Idioms & expressions
cut corners
To do something the easiest or cheapest way, often at the expense of quality or ethics.
"They cut corners in production, which led to poor quality."
cut it out!
To stop doing something annoying or bothersome.
"Cut it out! I'm trying to concentrate."
cut and dried
Something that is simple and straightforward; not needing much thought.
"The process was cut and dried, and there were no complications."
From Middle English cutten, from Old English *cyttan ('to cut, slice'), from Proto-Germanic *kutjaną. Related to Dutch kut ('cut') and German kutte ('cudgel').
The word 'cut' has been used since the Old English period with similar meanings related to division and reduction.