I. ˌən-dər-ˈkət verb
( -cut ; -cut·ting )
Date: 1598
transitive verb
1. : to cut away the underpart of
undercut a vein of ore
2. : to cut away material from the underside of (an object) so as to leave an overhanging portion in relief
3. : to offer to sell at lower prices than or to work for lower wages than (a competitor)
4. : to cut obliquely into (a tree) below the main cut and on the side toward which the tree will fall
5. : to strike (a ball) with a downward glancing blow so as to give a backspin or elevation to the shot
6. : to undermine or destroy the force, value, or effectiveness of
inflation undercut s consumer buying power
intransitive verb
: to perform the action of cutting away beneath
II. ˈən-dər-ˌkət noun
Date: 1859
1. British : tenderloin 1
2. : the action or result of cutting away from the underside or lower part of something
3. : a notch cut in the base of a tree before felling to determine the direction of falling and to prevent splitting