cut
To use a sharp tool like a knife, scissors, or a blade to divide something into pieces or to remove a part. It can also mean to reduce the amount, size, or duration of something.
Examples
3 of 5I cut the bread into slices for breakfast.
I divided the bread into pieces for the morning meal.
The surgeon will cut the tissue carefully during the procedure.
The doctor will divide the body tissue with care during the operation.
Hey, cut it out! I am trying to study.
Stop doing that! I am attempting to focus on my books.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of the letter 'C' as the shape of an open pair of scissors ready to 'Cut'.
Quick Quiz
Please use these scissors to ___ the paper for your project.
Correct!
The correct answer is: cut
Examples
I cut the bread into slices for breakfast.
everydayI divided the bread into pieces for the morning meal.
The surgeon will cut the tissue carefully during the procedure.
formalThe doctor will divide the body tissue with care during the operation.
Hey, cut it out! I am trying to study.
informalStop doing that! I am attempting to focus on my books.
The researchers decided to cut the observation period to three days.
academicThe scientists chose to reduce the time spent watching the subjects to three days.
The management plans to cut costs by ten percent this year.
businessThe leaders intend to reduce spending by ten percent this year.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
cut in line
to move in front of people waiting in a queue
cut a long story short
to skip the details and get to the main point
cut someone some slack
to be less strict or critical with someone
Often Confused With
Chop usually means to cut something into many small pieces with several quick movements, while cut is a general term.
Usage Notes
Cut is a very versatile verb used for physical actions involving blades as well as abstract reductions in numbers or prices.
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes use 'cut' when they mean 'turn off' for electronic devices, though 'cut the power' is used for electricity supply.
Memory Tip
Think of the letter 'C' as the shape of an open pair of scissors ready to 'Cut'.
Word Origin
Derived from Middle English 'cutten', possibly from North Germanic roots or an unrecorded Old English source.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
Cutting a red ribbon is a common symbolic ceremony used to mark the opening of a new building or event.
Quick Quiz
Please use these scissors to ___ the paper for your project.
Correct!
The correct answer is: cut
Related Grammar Rules
Related Vocabulary
A slice is a thin, flat piece of food that has been cut from...
knifeA tool or weapon with a sharp metal blade and a handle, used...
woundA wound is an injury to the body that involves a cut or a ho...
bladeTo level, shape, or clear a surface such as soil, snow, or g...
incisionA clean cut made into a body or a surface, usually by a doct...
Related Words
a
A1A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.
I
A1The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.
for
A1Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.
not
A1A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.
with
A1A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.
he
A1A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.
you
A1Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
at
A1A preposition used to indicate a specific point, location, or position in space. It is also used to specify a particular point in time or a certain state or activity.
but
A1A coordinating conjunction used to connect two statements that contrast with each other. It is used to introduce an added statement that is different from what has already been mentioned.
his
A1This word is used to show that something belongs to or is associated with a male person or animal previously mentioned. It functions as both a possessive determiner used before a noun and a possessive pronoun used on its own.
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