C1noun2K

Cutting

UK /["/ˈkʌtɪŋ/"]/US /["/ˈkʌtɪŋ/"]/

Definition

an article or a story that you cut from a newspaper or magazine and keep

In simple words: Separation of something into pieces using a sharp tool.

Examples

**newspaper/press cuttings**
She had kept all the press cuttings about the murder.
a cutting from ‘The Guardian’
Take geranium cuttings in late summer.
After about four weeks you will be able to see whether the cuttings have taken.
Take cuttings from mature plants in the spring.
These plants are easy to propagate from leaf cuttings.
You can see whether the cuttings have taken.

Usage notes

Used when talking about using a knife or scissors. Don't use in very formal writing. Can also refer to decreasing something, like budget cuts.

Grammar pattern

cut + object

Memory hint

Think of 'cutting' as 'cutting food' with a knife.

Collocations

newspaper
press
cutting from
leaf
root
stem
take
root
take
from a/the cutting
cutting from

Synonyms

slicing
chopping
trimming
shearing
snipping

Antonyms

joining
combining

Common mistakes

Used interchangeably with 'slice'; not every 'cut' is a 'slice'.
Confused with 'cutting-edge' which means innovative.
Misunderstood as only physical cutting; can also refer to cutting ties or relationships.