cutting

• IPA^(key): /ˈkʌtɪŋ/

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• Rhymes: -ʌtɪŋ

cutting (countable and uncountable, plural cuttings)

A railway cutting (sense 9)

1. (countable, uncountable) The action of the verb to cut.

   How many different cuttings can this movie undergo?

2. (countable) A section removed from the larger whole.
3. (countable) A newspaper clipping.
4. (countable) A leaf, stem, branch, or root removed from a plant and cultivated to grow a new plant.
5. (countable) An abridged selection of written work, often intended for performance.

   The actor had to make his cutting shorter to fit the audition time.

6. (uncountable) The editing of film or other recordings.
7. (uncountable) Self-harm; the act of cutting one's own skin.
8. (machining) The process of bringing metals to a desired shape by chipping away the unwanted material.

   Turning, boring, milling, and drilling are all different kinds of metal cutting processes.

9. (countable) A narrow passage, dug for a road, railway or canal to go through.
   • 1876, W.E. Henley, Journey by Train:

     WE flash across the level.

     We thunder thro' the bridges.

     We bicker down the cuttings.

     We sway along the ridges.

• (narrow passage for a transportation route): cut

cutting (comparative more cutting, superlative most cutting)

1. (not comparable) That is used for cutting.

   I need some sort of cutting utensil to get through this shrink wrap.

2. Of remarks, criticism, etc., potentially hurtful.

   The director gave the auditioning actors cutting criticism.

3. (India) Half-size beverage.

   cutting chai

• cross-cutting

cutting

1. present participle of cut