cutaway

1 of 2

adjective

cut·​away ˈkət-ə-ˌwā 

: having or showing parts cut away

a cutaway drawing

cutaway

2 of 2

noun

1

: a coat with skirts tapering from the front waistline to form tails at the back

2

a

: a cutaway picture or representation

b

: a shot that interrupts the main action of a film or television program to take up a related subject or to depict action supposed to be going on at the same time as the main action

3

: a back dive in which the head is lowered toward the board after the takeoff

Examples of cutaway in a Sentence

Adjective

The diagram shows a cutaway view of an engine.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Here are two of his cutaway views of the cerebellum, which coordinates movement. —Discover Magazine, 28 Mar. 2011

All of this is presented in clean, efficient cutaway scenes, branches that sprout from the investigation that forms the core of the story. —Katie Rife, Chron, 17 Nov. 2022

Noun

Along the way, the episode serves up some of the series’ best cutaway gags (the Jimmy Hoffa–like fate of Homer’s predecessor; Lisa’s Yellow Submarine–style anesthesia fantasy; a montage showing what happens when Burns and Smithers replace the strikers with robots). —Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2024

Wondering if a cutaway of a shirtless @JasonKelce screaming and holding a beer to celebrate his brother’s touchdown is ruining anyone’s entertainment value of this game out there. —Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 27 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1841, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1849, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

cutaway

1 of 2 adjective

cut·​away ˈkət-ə-ˌwā 

: showing the top or outside cut away so the inside parts can be seen

a cutaway view

cutaway

2 of 2 noun

1

: a coat with skirts cut from the front waistline to form tails at the back

2

: a cutaway illustration