Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Cut?

\Cut\ (k[u^]t), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Cut}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Cutting}.] [OE. cutten, kitten, ketten; prob. of Celtic origin; cf. W. cwtau to shorten, curtail, dock, cwta bobtailed, cwt tail, skirt, Gael. cutaich to shorten, curtail, dock, cutach short, docked, cut a bobtail, piece, Ir. cut a short tail, cutach bobtailed. Cf. {Coot}.] 1. To separate the parts of with, or as with, a sharp instrument; to make an incision in; to gash; to sever; to divide. You must cut this flesh from off his breast. --Shak. Before the whistling winds the vessels fly, With rapid swiftness cut the liquid way. --Pope. 2. To sever and cause to fall for the purpose of gathering; to hew; to mow or reap. Thy servants can skill to cut timer. --2. Chron. ii. 8 3. To sever and remove by cutting; to cut off; to dock; as, to cut the hair; to cut the nails. 4. To castrate or geld; as, to cut a horse. 5. To form or shape by cutting; to make by incision, hewing, etc.; to carve; to hew out. Why should a man. whose blood is warm within, Sit like his grandsire cut in alabaster? --Shak. Loopholes cut through thickest shade. --Milton. 6. To wound or hurt deeply the sensibilities of; to pierce; to lacerate; as, sarcasm cuts to the quick. The man was cut to the heart. --Addison. 7. To intersect; to cross; as, one line cuts another at right angles. 8. To refuse to recognize; to ignore; as, to cut a person in the street; to cut one's acquaintance. [Colloq.] 9. To absent one's self from; as, to cut an appointment, a recitation. etc.
\Cut\ (k[u^]t), v. i. 1. To do the work of an edged tool; to serve in dividing or gashing; as, a knife cuts well. 2. To admit of incision or severance; to yield to a cutting instrument. Panels of white wood that cuts like cheese. --Holmes. 3. To perform the operation of dividing, severing, incising, intersecting, etc.; to use a cutting instrument. He saved the lives of thousands by manner of cutting for the stone. --Pope. 4. To make a stroke with a whip. 5. To interfere, as a horse. 6. To move or make off quickly. [Colloq.] 7. To divide a pack of cards into two portion to decide the deal or trump, or to change the order of the cards to be dealt. {To cut across}, to pass over or through in the most direct way; as, to cut across a field. {To cut and run}, to make off suddenly and quickly; -- from the cutting of a ship's cable, when there is not time to raise the anchor. [Colloq.] {To cut} {in or into}, to interrupt; to join in anything suddenly. {To cut up}. (a) To play pranks. [Colloq.] (b) To divide into portions well or ill; to have the property left at one's death turn out well or poorly when divided among heirs, legatees, etc. [Slang.] ``When I die, may I cut up as well as Morgan Pendennis.'' --Thackeray.
\Cut\, n. 1. An opening made with an edged instrument; a cleft; a gash; a slash; a wound made by cutting; as, a sword cut. 2. A stroke or blow or cutting motion with an edged instrument; a stroke or blow with a whip. 3. That which wounds the feelings, as a harsh remark or criticism, or a sarcasm; personal discourtesy, as neglecting to recognize an acquaintance when meeting him; a slight. Rip called him by name, but the cur snarled, snapped his teeth, and passed on. This was an unkind cut indeed. --W. Irving. 4. A notch, passage, or channel made by cutting or digging; a furrow; a groove; as, a cut for a railroad. This great cut or ditch Secostris . . . purposed to have made a great deal wider and deeper. --Knolles. 5. The surface left by a cut; as, a smooth or clear cut. 6. A portion severed or cut off; a division; as, a cut of beef; a cut of timber. It should be understood, moreover, . . . that the group are not arbitrary cuts, but natural groups or types. --Dana. 7. An engraved block or plate; the impression from such an engraving; as, a book illustrated with fine cuts. 8. (a) The act of dividing a pack cards. (b) The right to divide; as, whose cut is it? 9. Manner in which a thing is cut or formed; shape; style; fashion; as, the cut of a garment. With eyes severe and beard of formal cut. --Shak. 10. A common work horse; a gelding. [Obs.] He'll buy me a cut, forth for to ride. --Beau. & Fl. 11. The failure of a college officer or student to be present at any appointed exercise. [College Cant] 12. A skein of yarn. --Wright. {A cut in rates} (Railroad), a reduction in fare, freight charges, etc., below the established rates. {A short cut}, a cross route which shortens the way and cuts off a circuitous passage. {The cut of one's jib}, the general appearance of a person. [Colloq.] {To draw cuts}, to draw lots, as of paper, etc., cut unequal lengths. Now draweth cut . . . The which that hath the shortest shall begin. --Chaucer.
\Cut\ (k[u^]t), a. 1. Gashed or divided, as by a cutting instrument. 2. Formed or shaped as by cutting; carved. 3. Overcome by liquor; tipsy. [Slang] {Cut and dried}, prepered beforehand; not spontaneous. {Cut glass}, glass having a surface ground and polished in facets or figures. {Cut nail}, a nail cut by machinery from a rolled plate of iron, in distinction from a wrought nail. {Cut stone}, stone hewn or chiseled to shape after having been split from the quarry.
\Cut\, v. t. 1. (Cricket) To deflect (a bowled ball) to the off, with a chopping movement of the bat. 2. (Billiards, etc.) To drive (an object ball) to either side by hitting it fine on the other side with the cue ball or another object ball. 3. (Lawn Tennis, etc.) To strike (a ball) with the racket inclined or struck across the ball so as to put a certain spin on the ball. 4. (Croqu?t) To drive (a ball) to one side by hitting with another ball.
\Cut\, v. t. {To cut out}, to separate from the midst of a number; as, to cut out a steer from a herd; to cut out a car from a train. Cut \Cut\, n. 1. (Lawn Tennis, etc.) A slanting stroke causing the ball to spin and bound irregularly; also, the spin so given to the ball. 2. (Cricket) A stroke on the off side between point and the wicket; also, one who plays this stroke.