cutter

noun

cut·​ter ˈkə-tər How to pronounce cutter (audio)
plural cutters
1
: one that cuts:
a
: one whose work is cutting or involves cutting
wood/glass cutters
b(1)
: an instrument, machine, machine part, or tool that cuts
(2)
: a device for vibrating a cutting stylus in disc recording
also : the stylus or its point
2
a
: a ship's boat for carrying stores or passengers
b
: a single-masted fore-and-aft rigged sailing vessel
c
: a small armed vessel in government service
3
baseball : cut fastball
His previous three home runs had come on a fastball, a cutter and a slider.Billy Witz
4
: a light sleigh
5
: a person who cuts himself or herself purposely (see cut entry 1 sense 1f) : a person who engages in cutting
The cast includes Jill, a middle-class runaway in love with the romance of risk; Maura, a "cutter" who engages in self-mutilation to thwart her over-controlling father …Cecelia Goodnow

Examples of cutter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In addition to refining his slider, McArthur developed a cutter that became effective. Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 8 Mar. 2024 But then the Americana Pipedream gang realized that no one had a bolt cutter to break the container’s metal seal. Charles W. McFarlane, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Anthony Lin, 15, was sleeping when he was bludgeoned to death with a two-foot long pair of bolt cutters on Jan. 22, 2016, prosecutors say. Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024 But now, as the Coast Guard’s hard-charging smaller craft puts pressure on the Coast Guard fleet to make their larger, more complex ships push the performance envelope, the old fleet of mid endurance cutters must press themselves even harder to redefine the mid-endurance cutter mission. Craig Hooper, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 In 2020, Sanchez had a five-pitch mix — a four-seam fastball that averaged 98.5 mph, a sinker that averaged 96.6 mph, a cutter that averaged 89.1 mph, a changeup that averaged 89 mph and a slider that averaged 85.8 mph. Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 19 Feb. 2024 Soto acknowledged the number of meat cutters in the market and how the competition would be tough. Marcus D. Smith, Sacramento Bee, 15 Feb. 2024 The library’s Makerspaces provide free access to creative software, recording and film studios, and vinyl and laser cutters. Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 28 Feb. 2024 Using cookie or biscuit cutters, cut out 3-inch rounds then cut out 1-inch-diameter holes. Yewande Komolafe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cutter.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cutter was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near cutter

Cite this Entry

“Cutter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cutter. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

cutter

noun
cut·​ter ˈkət-ər How to pronounce cutter (audio)
1
: one that cuts
a diamond cutter
a cookie cutter
2
a
: a ship's boat for carrying supplies or passengers
b
: a small sailing boat with one mast
c
: a small armed boat in government service
3
: a small sleigh

More from Merriam-Webster on cutter

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