noun
Common
cutting
KUH-tihng
Cutting (noun) means a piece cut from a plant — a stem, leaf, or root — used to grow a new plant. Example: “She took a cutting from the rose bush to grow in a pot.”
noun
1
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."
"My neighbour gave me a cutting from her geranium, and it rooted in a week."
"You can grow a new herb plant from a cutting placed in water."
2
A clipping cut from a newspaper or other printed text.
"He kept a cutting from the newspaper announcing his graduation."
"Grandad pasted a cutting about the village fair into his scrapbook."
"She sent me a cutting from the magazine with the recipe I wanted."
3
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."
"The railway runs through a long cutting before it reaches the tunnel."
"Wild flowers grew on the steep sides of the road cutting."
adj
1
Sharp or piercing, especially of remarks or criticism.
"Her cutting remark left him speechless."
"The wind had a cutting edge to it that morning."
"He replied with a cutting joke about her singing, and the room went quiet."
How to use cutting
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a piece cut off something (a plant stem, a newspaper clipping) or, as an adjective, sharply hurtful.
Common mistake
Don't confuse the horticultural "cutting" (a piece used to grow a new plant) with "clipping," which usually refers only to print media.
Common pairings
plant cutting
newspaper cutting
cutting remark
cutting wind
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Word forms
- Plural
- cuttings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She took a _____ from the rose bush to grow in a pot.
Etymology
Formed from cut plus the suffix -ing.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for cutting
See all rhymes for 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.
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