undercut
pronunciation
How to pronounce undercut in British English:
UK [ˌʌndəˈkʌt]
How to pronounce undercut in American English:
US [ˌʌndərˈkʌt]
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- Noun:
- the material removed by a cut made underneath
- the tender meat of the loin muscle on each side of the vertebral column
- a notch cut in the trunk of tree in order to determine the direction of its fall
- (sports) a stroke that puts reverse spin on the ball
- a cut made underneath to remove material
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- Verb:
- sell cheaper than one's competition
- cut away material from the underside of (an object) so as to leave an overhanging portion in relief
- cut away the underpart of
- strike (the ball) in golf, tennis, or hockey obliquely downward so as to give a backspin or elevation to the shot
- cut obliquely into (a tree) below the main cut and on the side toward which the tree will fall
Word Origin
- undercut (v.)
- late 14c., "to cut down or off," from under + cut (v.). In the commercial sense of "sell at lower prices" (or work at lower wages) it is first attested 1884. Figurative sense of "render unstable, undermine" is recorded from 1955, from earlier literal meaning "cut so as to leave the upper portion larger than the lower" (1874).
Example
- 1. The rise of feudal society also undercut money 's role .
- 2. Of course , misusing military resources can also undercut soft power .
- 3. Countries such as cambodia and bangladesh now undercut vietnam in cheap manufactures .
- 4. Square could thus undercut banks that are now charging consumers and merchants exorbitant fees to use debit .
- 5. The second is made up of the asian and other emerging market manufacturing and service sector workers , who have undercut western labour costs .