undercut
/ˌʌndəˈkʌt/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈʌndɚkˌʌt] /ˌʌndərˈkʌt/ (ame, ipa) · [ˈʌndɚkˌʌt] /ˌən-dər-ˈkət How to pronounce undercut (audio)/ (ame, mw) · /ˈʌn.də.kʌt/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈʌndɚkˌʌt] /ˈʌn.dɚ.kʌt/ (ame, ipa)
undercut — verb
- undercutpresent simple I / you / we / they
- undercutshe / she / it
- undercutting-ing form
1. to offer goods or services more cheaply than a rival, so customers choose your s
to offer goods or services more cheaply than a rival, so customers choose your side instead.
The new bakery undercut nearby cafes by twenty dollars on each cake.
undercut + competitor + by + amount
When fuel costs fell, Mira's airline undercut bigger rivals on weekend flights.
common business setting with rival sellers
Online pharmacies can undercut local shops if shipping stays cheap.
By noon, one fruit seller had undercut every stall in the market.
- overprice
to set a price higher than buyers think is fair
文法句型
undercut + competitor/rival
undercut + competitor + by + amount
undercut + market price
用法筆記
The object is the competing seller or the market price being beaten. This sense often appears with by plus an amount to show how much cheaper the offer is.
常見錯誤
2. to make support, trust, or usefulness weaker so something is less likely to work
to make support, trust, or usefulness weaker so something is less likely to work or succeed.
Public leaks undercut the mayor's transport plan before the final vote.
undercut + plan
His careless joke undercut the serious mood of the memorial service.
Cheap copies undercut trust in the brand after the safety scare.
Missing data undercut our argument in court by lunchtime.
- strengthen
to make something firmer or more effective
文法句型
undercut + plan/argument
undercut + confidence/trust
undercut + authority
用法筆記
This sense usually takes an abstract object such as confidence, authority, credibility, a plan, or an argument. It describes damage to a supporting base rather than physical cutting.
3. to brush under the ball as you strike it, making it spin backward after contact.
to brush under the ball as you strike it, making it spin backward after contact.
Joon undercut the tennis ball and dropped it short over the net.
undercut + ball to create backspin
On the steep green, Rafael undercut the chip to stop it quickly.
The coach told Lauren to undercut the hockey ball for a lifted pass.
In table tennis, Felix undercut the serve so it died near the line.
- slice
can also describe imparting spin, though it is broader than this technical sense
文法句型
undercut + ball
undercut + serve/chip
undercut + shot
用法筆記
Used in sports where players can brush under the ball to control its spin or height. The object is the ball or the shot, not the racket, club, or stick.
4. to cut upward into the lower part of something so material is taken away or the
to cut upward into the lower part of something so material is taken away or the piece falls a chosen way.
The woodworker undercut the shelf edge to make the front look thinner.
undercut + edge from the underside
Before the tree fell, Samir undercut the trunk on the river side.
forestry use with tree trunk
The mason undercut the stone block so the lamp base would fit.
During the repair, Eitan undercut the plaster lip with a narrow knife.
文法句型
undercut + edge/surface
undercut + stone/wood
undercut + trunk
用法筆記
This technical sense appears in woodworking, stonework, and tree felling. Unlike sense 2, it describes a literal physical cut made from underneath.
undercut — noun
- undercutsingular
- undercutsplural
1. a haircut with the back and sides clipped very close while the hair on top is le
a haircut with the back and sides clipped very close while the hair on top is left longer.
Felix asked for an undercut before starting art school in September.
collocation: ask for an undercut
The singer's undercut looked sharper after the barber trimmed the sides.
hairstyle with short sides and longer top
At the wedding, Paloma pinned the long top of her undercut sideways.
Joon grew out his undercut during winter because his ears got cold.
文法句型
get an undercut
have an undercut
wear an undercut
用法筆記
Usually used for a modern haircut with a strong contrast between short sides and a longer top section. English commonly uses get, have, or wear with this noun.
常見錯誤
2. a V-shaped notch cut low in a trunk so the tree falls in the planned direction.
a V-shaped notch cut low in a trunk so the tree falls in the planned direction.
The crew checked the undercut before bringing the pine down.
forestry noun used before felling
One shallow undercut sent the tree leaning toward the fence.
After measuring the slope, the forester widened the undercut on the valley side.
Rain filled the undercut at the base of the cedar overnight.
- notch
a broader word for a cut-out shape, not limited to tree felling
文法句型
cut an undercut
check the undercut
deepen the undercut
用法筆記
This sense belongs to tree-felling work. It names the guiding notch itself, not the broader act of cutting the whole tree down.
3. a cut or hollow made from below a surface to remove material or leave an overhan
a cut or hollow made from below a surface to remove material or leave an overhanging edge.
The cabinet door would not close until the carpenter deepened the undercut.
technical cut under a surface
A small undercut beneath the stone lip made the bowl look lighter.
undercut beneath an overhanging edge
The restorer filled the old undercut under the window ledge with plaster.
Without the undercut, the carved panel looked flat from the doorway.
- recess
a broader word for a hollowed-in area, not always cut from below
文法句型
make an undercut
deepen the undercut
fill the undercut
用法筆記
Used in craft, building, and carving contexts for a cut made underneath a surface. Distinguish from sense 2, which is specifically the notch used when felling a tree.
4. a tender cut of meat taken from the loin area along the backbone of an animal.
a tender cut of meat taken from the loin area along the backbone of an animal.
The butcher sold pork undercut for tonight's hotpot dinner.
food label: pork undercut
For the family meal, Aunt Rosa sliced the undercut thin and fried it.
The chef wrapped the undercut in bacon to stop it drying out.
Because the undercut is tender, it cooks faster than the shoulder.
- tenderloin
the more widely used name for a very similar cut
- fillet
a broader meat term that can overlap, especially in cooking
文法句型
buy undercut
slice the undercut
cook undercut gently
用法筆記
This sense appears in butchery and cooking. It refers to the meat cut itself, often named together with the animal, such as pork undercut.