Definition

1. Verb (transitive and intransitive):
   • To remove something from a larger piece by cutting, or to be removed in this way.
   • To stop functioning or operating suddenly.
   • To eliminate, exclude, or omit something.
   • To form or create something by cutting it from a material.
   • To intercept or move in front of someone, especially in traffic or sports, forcing them to stop or change direction.

Usage and Examples

• To remove by cutting:
  • She cut out the article from the newspaper to save it.
  • The doctor said I need to cut out sugar from my diet.
• To stop working (intransitive):
  • The engine cut out halfway up the hill.
• To eliminate or omit:
  • Let's cut out the unnecessary details to make the report shorter.
  • He was cut out of the will.
• To form by cutting:
  • The children cut out stars and moons from colored paper.
• To intercept or block:
  • The defender cut out the pass before it reached the striker.
  • A truck suddenly cut me out on the highway.

Advanced Usage

• "to be cut out for (something)": To be naturally suited or qualified for a particular role or activity.
  • With her patience and kindness, she is cut out for teaching.
• "Cut it out!": An informal command telling someone to stop doing something annoying.
  • You're being silly. Cut it out!

Variants and Related Words

• Cut-out (noun): A shape or figure that has been cut out from a material.
  • The classroom was decorated with paper cut-outs of animals.
• Cutting out (gerund/noun): The action or process of removing something by cutting.

Synonyms

• Remove, excise, extract (for cutting).
• Stop, fail, stall (for machinery).
• Delete, eliminate, omit.
• Intercept, block.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Cut out on (someone) (informal): To abandon or leave someone, especially unexpectedly.
  • He cut out on his friends without saying goodbye.
• Cut out for: See "Advanced Usage" above.

Related Idioms

• "Cut out the middleman": To deal directly with the producer or source, avoiding intermediaries to save cost or time.
  • We buy our vegetables directly from the farm to cut out the middleman.

Adjective

1. having been cut out
   • the cut-out pieces of the dress

Verb

1. cease operating
   • The pump suddenly cut out
2. intercept (a player)
3. strike or cancel by or as if by rubbing or crossing out
   • scratch out my name on that list
4. cut off and stop
   • The bicyclist was cut out by the van
5. form and create by cutting out
   • Picasso cut out a guitar from a piece of paper
6. delete or remove
   • Cut out the extra text
   • cut out the newspaper article