# cutter /ˈkətɝ/ (US) · /kˈʌtɐ/ (UK) Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cutter Updated: 2026-08-15 ## Senses ### 1. a tool or machine noun · CEFR A2 a tool or a machine used for cutting specific materials like paper, glass, or wire. For teachers: an instrument or machine designed to sever or shape materials through a cutting action. - He used a glass cutter to carefully resize the mirror for the bathroom. - The industrial paper cutter is equipped with a safety guard to prevent accidents during high-volume trimming tasks. ### 2. a person who cuts noun · CEFR B1 a person whose job involves cutting things, such as fabric for clothes or precious stones. For teachers: a person whose professional occupation involves the precise cutting of materials, such as a gem-cutter or a garment-cutter. - The diamond cutter spent weeks planning how to divide the large stone. - As a master pattern cutter, she was responsible for translating the designer's sketches into physical templates for the factory. ### 3. a type of boat noun · CEFR B2 a small, fast ship used by the coast guard or a sailing boat with one mast. For teachers: a small, fast naval or law enforcement vessel; also a single-masted sailing vessel with multiple headsails. - The Coast Guard cutter intercepted the boat just outside the harbor. - The historic sailing cutter featured a distinctive rig that allowed it to navigate effectively even in light winds. ### 4. a surgeon noun · CEFR C1 · Humorous · Informal · Slang a slang or humorous name for a doctor who performs operations. For teachers: a colloquial and often irreverent term for a surgeon. - The old cutter has been working in this hospital for thirty years. - Despite his reputation as a brilliant cutter, the surgeon was known for his poor bedside manner with patients. ### 5. a type of pitch noun · CEFR C1 · Technical a fast throw in baseball that moves slightly to the side as it reaches the batter. For teachers: a cut fastball; a pitch that breaks slightly away from the pitcher's arm side. - The pitcher threw a sharp cutter that the batter completely missed. - He relied on his cutter to induce weak ground balls when facing power hitters in the late innings. ### 6. a knife noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Dialect a slang word for a knife, often used in city areas. For teachers: a slang term for a knife or bladed weapon, common in certain urban dialects. - He was caught carrying a cutter in his pocket during the street festival. - The local youth used specific slang, referring to any folding blade as a cutter to avoid detection by authorities. ### 7. a person who self-harms noun · CEFR B2 · Informal a person who intentionally hurts themselves by making small cuts on their skin. For teachers: an individual who engages in self-injurious behavior specifically by cutting their own skin. - The school counselor was trained to help students who were identified as cutters. - Clinical psychologists emphasize that being a cutter is often a symptom of deep emotional distress rather than a desire for attention. ### 8. a light sleigh noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic a small, light carriage on runners pulled by one horse over snow. For teachers: a small, light horse-drawn sleigh, typically designed for two people. - They took the cutter out for a ride across the frozen fields. - The museum's collection includes a beautifully preserved nineteenth-century cutter, complete with its original velvet upholstery. ## Examples - Please use the paper cutter to trim the edges of the photos. - The coast guard dispatched a high-speed cutter to intercept the vessel before it reached the harbor. - Industrial diamond cutters are essential for precision engineering, as they can slice through hardened steel with minimal friction and heat generation. --- From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.