Definition of "cutting"
cutting
noun
countable and uncountable, plural cuttings
(countable, uncountable) The action of the verb to cut.
Quotations
The first industrial use of CO2 lasers was the cutting of plywood dye boards for the packaging industry. [...] The laser cutting process has a number of advantages over competing technologies which have ensured the growth of this branch of industry: [...]
1993, John Powell, “The Basic Principles”, in CO2 Laser Cutting, London, Berlin: Springer-Verlag, section 1.1 (The Cutting Process), pages 2–3
Female genital cutting is an intentional, nonmedical modification of the female genitalia. It is commonly performed on girls between the ages of 4 and 16, although in some cases it is performed on infants as young as three months old.
2014, Mary Nyangweso, “Female Genital Cutting: An Overview”, in Female Genital Cutting in Industrialized Countries: Mutilation or Cultural Tradition?, Santa Barbara, Calif.: Praeger, ABC-CLIO, page 15
(countable) A section removed from a larger whole.
Quotations
[O]bſerving [...] abundance of Matter floating in the Urine like Bran, with a great Number of Recrements like Cuttings of Hair, ſome above an Inch long, which Subſtances were found in all the Water that I made in above Twelve Months; for which I could get no Remedy: I was adviſed to drink Water, which in about half a Year did intirely free me from thoſe Symptoms, [...]
1723, John Smith, The Curiosities of Common Water: Or The Advantages thereof in Preventing and Curing Many Distempers. , pages 9–10
I make such gelatine as above mentioned of two different qualities, [...] and I use all such hides and skins, and cuttings of hides and skins as are usually employed in manufacturing glue according to the ordinary method, and which are commonly called glue-pieces, [...]
1839 March 23, George Nelson, “Specification of a Patent Granted to George Nelson, […] for a New or Improved Method, or New and Improved Methods of Preparing Gelatine which has the Properties of or Resembles Glue.—Sealed March 23, 1839”, in The Repertory of Patent Inventions, […], volume XIII (New Series), number LXXVII, London: […] J. S. Hodson, […], published May 1840, page 270
Yet, while paper cuttings can look very modern, paper cutting as an activity has a long, rich heritage. The Chinese, who first invented paper as we know it, started cutting more than a thousand years before most Europeans had ever seen a piece of paper. The oldest extant paper cutting is a simple symmetrical circle from the sixth century that was found in a far western province of China.
2011, Natalie Avella, “Introduction”, in Laura Heyenga, compiler, Paper Cutting: Contemporary Artists, Timeless Craft, San Francisco, Calif.: Chronicle Books, page 9, column 1
(countable) A newspaper clipping.
Quotations
Extract from "Newspaper Cuttings relating to Sussex," (Sussex Archaeological Collections, 1872, pp. 140, 141.)
p. 1871, Smuggling & Smugglers in Sussex. […], Brighton, East Sussex: W. J. Smith, […], page 263
The Witness. [After a farther inspection of the newspaper cutting.] No; it is not in that part about Weber, but here [indicating another newspaper cutting] is the agreement that Mr. Wilder was testifying about, and that has Weber's name.
1878 July 13, Henry C. Fisk (witness), “Eleventh Day”, in Presidential Election Investigation: Testimony Taken by the Select Committee on Alleged Frauds in the Presidential Election of 1876 (45th Congress, 3d Session, House of Representatives Mis. Doc.; 31, part 3), volume III (Testimony Relating to Louisiana), Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, published 1879, page 252
Mrs. Seal wandered about with newspaper cuttings, which seemed to her either "quite splendid" or "really too bad for words." She used to paste these into books, or send them to her friends, having first drawn a broad bar in blue pencil down the margin, a proceeding which signified equally and indistinguishably the depths of her reprobation or the heights of her approval.
1919 October 20, Virginia Woolf, chapter VI, in Night and Day, London: Duckworth and Company […], page 81
Moved by some vague presentiment amidst the horrors of that period, Willett arranged with an international press-cutting bureau for accounts of notable current crimes and accidents in Prague and in eastern Transylvania; and after six months believed that he had found two very significant things amongst the multifarious items he received and had translated.
H.P. Lovecraft, The Case of Charles Dexter Ward
(countable, horticulture) A leaf, stem, branch, or root removed from a plant and cultivated to grow a new plant.
Quotations
To propagate by cuttings, is to cut off the branch or ſtem of a Plant, and to ſet it in the Earth without Roots. Strip it of leaves and branches, Plant deeper than theſe with Roots, and in a rich and moiſt ſoil, keeping it watered and ſhaded, Untill Rooted; cut off their Tops ſave Greens, as if your cutting be 12 Inches long, let 9 be under, and 3 above ground.
1683, John Reid, “Of the Several Wayes of Propagation”, in The Scots Gard’ner: […], Edinburgh: […] David Lindsay, […], 2nd part (Treating of the Culture of Plants), paragraph 5, page 59
All the Sorts of Vines are propagated either from Layers or Cuttings, the former of which is greatly practis'd in England, but the latter is what I would recommend, as being much preferable to the other. [...] I had rather plant a good Cutting than a rooted Plant, provided it be well choſen, and there is leſs Danger of its not growing.
1733, Philip Miller, “VITIS”, in The Gardeners Dictionary: […], 2nd edition, volume I, London: […] C[harles] Rivington, […], column 1
The method of propagating the Box is perfectly easy: it may be raised from cuttings, or from seed, or by layering. [...] For planting the cuttings, [Thomas] Hanbury says the month of August is the best time, if any rain falls.
1803, [William] Marshall, “Buxus”, in On Planting and Rural Ornament. A Practical Treatise, [...] In Two Volumes, 3rd edition, volume II, London: […] G[eorge] and W. Nicol, […]; G[eorge] and J[ohn] Robinson, […]; and T[homas] Cadell and W[illiam] Davies, […], page 47
(countable, Britain) An open passage at a level lower than the surrounding terrain, dug for a canal, railway, or road to go through.
Quotations
[T]he railway, however, will require a farther outlay to render it complete, though the locomotive engine has passed over every foot of ground from Liverpool to Salford. The slopes of the cuttings want dressing, and several of them want protecting with foot walls.
1832, “Documents in Relation to the Comparative Merits of Canals and Railroads, Submitted by Mr. Howard, of Maryland, […]. (Doc. No. 101) [No. 7. Observations upon the Cost of the Liverpool and Manchester Railway.]”, in Executive Documents, Printed by Order of the House of Representatives, at the First Session of the Twenty-second Congress, […] In Seven Volumes, volume III, Washington, D.C.: […] Duff Green, page 211
On the descent the line is often in cuttings; some are high, such as at Scarcroft, where a cut through firestone and fireclay was necessary, and near Bardsey, where the line threads a deep tree-lined gorge.
1961 February, D. Bertram, “The lines to Wetherby and their traffic”, in Trains Illustrated, page 101
(uncountable, machining) The process of bringing metals to a desired shape by chipping away the unwanted material.
Quotations
Metal-cutting tools often have two cutting edges, both of which are angled to the direction of cutting, and in round-nosed tools the inclination continuously varies [...].
2009, Tony Atkins, “Slice–Push Ratio: Oblique Cutting and Curved Blades, Scissors, Guillotining and Drilling”, in The Science and Engineering of Cutting: The Mechanics and Processes of Separating, Scratching and Puncturing Biomaterials, Metals and Non-metals, Oxford, Oxfordshire, Amsterdam: Butterworth-Heinemann, section 5.1 (Introduction), page 111
(uncountable, psychology) The act of cutting one's own skin as a symptom of a mental disorder; self-harm.
Quotations
Cutting has become one of the most popular forms of self-injury, but there are others at well, and each is just as dangerous as cutting. The information here might help you recognize the signs of self-injury in others.
2014, Greg Roza, “What is Self-injury?”, in Cutting and Self-injury (Teen Mental Health), New York, N.Y.: Rosen Publishing Group, page 7
adjective
not comparable
Quotations
The power consumed in metal cutting is largely converted into heat near the cutting edge of the tool, and many of the economic and technical problems of machining are caused directly or indirectly by this heating action.
1984, E[dward] M[oor] Trent, “Heat in Metal Cutting”, in Metal Cutting, 2nd edition, London, Boston, Mass.: Butterworths & Co., published 1989, page 54
Of criticism, remarks, etc.: (potentially) hurtful.
Quotations
[H]e concludes with this cutting remark, But Benefactors may give Money, but not grateful Minds to ſuch as receive it.
1703, Ambr[ose] Philips, “An Appendix to the Life of Abp. Williams”, in The Life of John Williams, Ld Keeper of the Great Seal, Bishop of Lincoln, and ABp. [Archbishop] of York. […], 2nd edition, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: […] A[bel] Roper […]; and R. Basset […], page 311
Poor Betsy had often been the subject of Tommy's jokes; many a cutting remark had been made about her dress, which, though clean and whole, was always poor and old-fashioned; [...]
1861 September, “The Little Gleaner”, in The Child’s Companion, and Juvenile Instructor, number 201, London: The Religious Tract Society; […], page 260