I. | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ verb
Etymology: under (I) + cut, v.
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
undercut the leaves of a wood carving
: cut free from beneath
undercut the skin of the cheek in plastic surgery
3.
a. : to offer to sell at lower prices than or to work for lower wages or serve for lower fees than (a competitor)
b. : to accept or offer to accept a lower scale of (prices or wages) than is standard or general
c. : to have in gin rummy a count as low as or lower than the count of (the knocker)
4.
a. : to cut (a book cover) in stamping with an improperly prepared die
b. : to hollow out or trim off a part of (a stamping die) to reduce impression pressure
5. : to eat under laterally so as to leave without proper support — used of the action of etching acid on the lines of a printing surface
6. : to cut obliquely into (a tree) below the main cut and on the side toward which the tree will fall
7. : to strike (the ball) in golf, tennis, or hockey obliquely downward so as to give a backspin or elevation to the shot
8. : to cut from (a forest) less timber than the growth warrants or less than the estimated annual cut
intransitive verb
1. : to perform the action of cutting away beneath
2. : to cut one foot into the place occupied by the other in dancing
II. ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ noun
Etymology: partly from undercut (I) ; partly from under (III) + cut, n.
1. : the action of result of cutting away from the underside of anything
undercut of a vehicle
undercut of a tooth cavity for anchoring a filling
2. Britain : tenderloin 1
3.
a. : a notch cut before felling in the base of a tree to determine the direction of falling and to prevent splitting
b. : kerf 2
c. : part of a founding mold cut away so as to require special measures in removing the pattern from the mold
4.
a. : a cut (as in tennis) made with an underhand stroke
b. : backspin
5. : a replacement of one foot by the other in dancing : coupé
III. | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ adjective
Etymology: from past participle of undercut (I)
: cut away below or on the underside : having under material cut or carved away so as to be left standing out in relief
undercut rims and figures on pottery