Undercut (Verb)
Meaning 1
Cut away material from the underside of (an object) so as to leave an overhanging portion in relief.
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- The carpenter undercut the floorboards to create space for the new insulation to be installed.
- She undercut the edges of the plaster to make room for the decorative molding.
- The sculptor undercut the marble to release the delicate curves of the figure.
- To prevent the slab of stone from cracking, the mason undercut the portion that was to be the ledge.
- He undercut the wood around the window frame to create a seamless fit for the new sill.
Related Words
Meaning 2
Cut obliquely into (a tree) below the main cut and on the side toward which the tree will fall.
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- To safely fell the tree, it's essential to undercut it carefully about one-third of the way through the trunk.
- The logger made sure to undercut the tree on the side he wanted it to fall, taking care not to cut too far through the wood.
- As a precautionary measure, the arborist undercut the dead branch before making the main cut, helping to guide its fall.
- Before felling the tree, the forester undercut it to reduce the risk of the trunk splitting or twisting as it fell.
- The woodcutter undercut the giant oak on the north side, carefully planning the direction it would fall to avoid damaging nearby power lines.
Related Words
Meaning 3
Strike (the ball) in golf, tennis, or hockey obliquely downward so as to give a backspin or elevation to the shot.
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- The golfer undercut the ball, causing it to spin back sharply towards him.
- The tennis player undercut her shot to get it over the net but still dip inside the service line.
- By undercutting the puck, the hockey forward was able to make it bounce up and over the goalie's stick.
- The technique to undercut a golf ball is tricky to master and requires precise control.
- She undercut the ball slightly, which took a lot of power off the shot but got it spinning safely onto the green.
Related Words
Meaning 4
Sell cheaper than one's competition.
Classification
Verbs of buying, selling, owning.
Examples
- The new electronics store undercut the prices of its competitors, attracting a large customer base.
- Big retailers often undercut smaller businesses by selling products at a lower price.
- Companies that undercut their rivals on price often suffer from decreased profit margins.
- Several online marketplaces have changed their strategies to undercut eBay's prices and compete with Amazon.
- Their decision to undercut the established players shook the market and led to a shift in consumer spending habits.
Synonyms
Hypernyms
Meaning 5
Cut away the underpart of; "undercut a vein of ore".
Classification
Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging.
Examples
- The geological team worked to undercut the coal seam, making it easier to extract.
- Erosion undercut the riverbank, causing the nearby trees to become unstable.
- Efforts to undercut the concrete foundation required precise and controlled excavation.
- Miners had to undercut the vein of gold to create a stable and accessible passageway.
- Construction workers were tasked with undercutting the old foundation to make way for the new extension.