crosscut

1 of 3

verb

cross·​cut ˈkrȯs-ˌkət How to pronounce crosscut (audio)
-ˈkət
crosscut; crosscutting; crosscuts

transitive verb

1
: to cut, go, or move across or through
2
: to cut with a crosscut saw
3
: to subject (something, such as movie scenes) to crosscutting

crosscut

2 of 3

adjective

1
: made or used for cutting transversely
a saw with crosscut teeth
2
: cut across or transversely
a crosscut incision

crosscut

3 of 3

noun

cross·​cut ˈkrȯs-ˌkət How to pronounce crosscut (audio)
1
: something that cuts across or through
specifically : a mine working driven horizontally and at right angles to an adit, drift, or level
2
3
4
: an instance of crosscutting (as in a movie)

Examples of crosscut in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Verb
The story crosscut feverishly between the two, giving rise to a ticklishly clever chicken-or-egg conundrum: Was Riley being manipulated, like a puppet, by her confused and unruly emotions? Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 17 June 2024 Clamp these pieces together edge-to-edge, and crosscut them again with the track saw to produce two 8-inch pieces that form the ends of the box and two 24 inch pieces that form the top and the bottom panels. Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 5 Jan. 2023
Adjective
As a first step, the president should direct the White House’s Office of Management and Budget to conduct and publish a crosscut analysis of all current education R&D spending across federal agencies. Ulrich Boser, Forbes, 19 Sep. 2024 The scene is crosscut with Rhaenyra and her family throwing items, including a riding blanket and a little horse figure, into a funeral pyre for Luke. Omar L. Gallaga, Washington Post, 17 June 2024
Noun
The 6-foot crosscut saw wobbled precariously with each step, but Fobert wouldn’t have to walk much farther. Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 18 Aug. 2022 Hudson and Brandon each take an end of a crosscut saw and get to work felling a tree. Philip Ellis, Men's Health, 13 Aug. 2023 See all Example Sentences for crosscut 

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1590, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1645, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1789, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of crosscut was in 1590

Dictionary Entries Near crosscut

Cite this Entry

“Crosscut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crosscut. Accessed 7 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

crosscut

1 of 3 verb
cross·​cut ˈkrȯ-ˌskət How to pronounce crosscut (audio)
-ˈskət
crosscut; crosscutting
: to cut or saw across the grain of wood

crosscut

2 of 3 adjective
1
: made or used for cutting across the grain of wood
a crosscut saw
2
: cut across
a crosscut incision

crosscut

3 of 3 noun
cross·​cut ˈkrȯ-ˌskət How to pronounce crosscut (audio)
1
: something that cuts across or through
2
: a crosscut saw

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