cut

To divide something into pieces or make it shorter using a knife, scissors, or another sharp tool.

• Please cut the bread.
• She cut her hair yesterday.
• Can you cut this paper into strips?

How to use it: cut something into something (She cut the apple into small pieces.); cut something with something (He cut the string with scissors.)

Similar words: slice, chop, trim

Common phrases: cut something up, cut into pieces, cut your hair

To injure skin with something sharp.

• I cut my finger.
• He cut himself while shaving.
• Be careful: that glass could cut you.

How to use it: cut yourself on something (I cut myself on a piece of broken glass.)

Common phrases: cut your finger, cut yourself, cut someone’s hand

To stop something such as a supply, connection, or working machine.

• They cut the electricity.
• The pilot cut the engine after landing.
• Someone has cut our water supply.

Similar words: shut off, stop, disconnect

Opposites: restore

Common phrases: cut the power, cut the engine, cut the supply

To remove text or an image on a computer and temporarily save it so you can put it elsewhere.

• Cut the text and paste it below.
• I cut the picture from the document.
• Did you cut that paragraph or copy it?

How to use it: cut something from something (Cut the paragraph from this document and paste it into the email.)

Common phrases: cut and paste, cut the text, cut something from

To change a film by choosing, removing, or rearranging scenes, often to make it shorter.

• They cut several scenes from the film.
• The director cut the movie to ninety minutes.
• Who cut the final version?

How to use it: cut something from something (The editor cut the opening scene from the film.); cut something by an amount (They cut the film by fifteen minutes.)

Similar words: edit, shorten

Common phrases: cut a film, cut a scene, cut from something

If a film or broadcast does this, its picture changes suddenly to a different scene or view.

• The camera cuts to her face.
• The news cut back to the studio.
• The film suddenly cuts from winter to summer.

How to use it: cut to something (The film cuts to a crowded street.); cut from something to something (The broadcast cut from the stadium to the studio.)

Similar words: switch

Common phrases: cut to something, cut back to, cut away from

Separated, opened, or shaped with a knife or another sharp tool.

• Put the cut flowers in water.
• The cut wood was stacked beside the door.
• She swept the cut hair off the floor.

Opposites: uncut

Common phrases: cut flowers, freshly cut grass, cut hair

Made smaller in amount, price, or strength.

• The shop offered cut prices today.
• They had to work with a cut budget.
• Cut rates attracted more customers last month.

Similar words: reduced, lowered

Opposites: increased

Common phrases: cut prices, cut rates, cut budget