cutting

21 synonyms and 6 antonyms for cutting, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A piece cut from a plant — a stem, leaf, or root — used to grow a new plant.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

slip cut raw

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

carving edged bleak stabbing piercing keen

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

clipping scion thinning cutting off film editing press cutting press clipping newspaper clipping stinging lancinate knifelike lancinating

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A piece cut from a plant — a stem, leaf, or root — used to grow a new plant.

“She took a cutting from the rose bush to grow in a pot.”

clipping slip scion cut carving thinning cutting off film editing press cutting press clipping newspaper clipping

2. noun

A channel dug through higher ground at a lower level than the surrounding land, for a road, railway, or canal to pass through.

“The train slowed as it passed through a deep cutting in the hillside.”

Opposites

embankment

3. adj

Sharp or piercing, especially of remarks or criticism.

“Her cutting remark left him speechless.”

edged stinging bleak lancinate knifelike lancinating stabbing piercing keen raw

Opposites

complimentary mild soothing genial flattering

How to use cutting

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

plant cutting newspaper cutting cutting remark cutting wind

Etymology

Formed from cut plus the suffix -ing.

Full origin of cutting →

Frequently asked questions

What does “cutting” mean?

The word “cutting” means a piece cut from a plant — a stem, leaf, or root — used to grow a new plant. In plain terms, either a piece cut off something (a plant stem, a newspaper clipping) or, as an adjective, sharply hurtful.

How do you pronounce “cutting”?

“Cutting” is pronounced KUH-tihng (/ˈkʌtɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “cutting” in a sentence?

Here is “cutting” used in a sentence: “She took a cutting from the rose bush to grow in a pot.”

What part of speech is “cutting”?

Depending on how it is used, “cutting” can be a noun and an adjective.

Is “cutting” a common word?

“Cutting” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “cutting” have?

“Cutting” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a piece cut from a plant — a stem, leaf, or root — used to grow a new plant.

How do you grow a plant from a cutting?

You take a healthy piece of stem, leaf, or root from a parent plant, then encourage it to form its own roots. Typically you trim it cleanly, sometimes dip it in rooting hormone, and place it in water or moist compost. Kept warm and damp, it gradually grows into a new plant.

What is the difference between a cutting and a seedling?

A cutting is a piece taken from an existing plant that roots and grows into a genetic copy of its parent. A seedling is a young plant grown from seed, carrying a mix of traits from two parents. Cuttings clone; seedlings are new individuals, so their results can vary more.

What are the types of cuttings?

Gardeners usually name cuttings after the part used. Stem cuttings are the most common, taken from shoots or branches. Leaf cuttings grow new plants from a single leaf, as with many succulents. Root cuttings use a section of root. Each suits different plants and times of year.

People also searched

cut raw slip keen mild piercing carving stabbing edged bleak flattering soothing

Nearby words

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