crosscut

1 of 3

verb

cross·​cut ˈkrȯs-ˌkət 

-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 

1

: something that cuts across or through

specifically : a mine working driven horizontally and at right angles to an adit, drift, or level

2

: cross section

3

: crosscut saw

4

: an instance of crosscutting (as in a movie)

Examples of crosscut in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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

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

Phrases Containing crosscut

• crosscut saw

Kids Definition

crosscut

1 of 3 verb

cross·​cut ˈkrȯ-ˌskət 

-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 

1

: something that cuts across or through

2

: a crosscut saw