cut and cutting share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. cut means “separate with or as if with an instrument”. cutting means “the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film”. cut is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/ˈkʌt/
1.v.separate with or as if with an instrument
“Cut the rope”
2.v.cut down on; make a reduction in
“reduce your daily fat intake”
3.v.turn sharply; change direction abruptly
“The car cut to the left at the intersection”
/ˈkʌtɪŋ/
1.n.the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film
2.n.a part (sometimes a root or leaf or bud) removed from a plant to propagate a new plant through rooting or grafting
3.n.the act of cutting something into parts
“his cuts were skillful”
| cut | cutting | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /ˈkʌt/ | /ˈkʌtɪŋ/ |
| Said | kuht | KUHT-ing |
| Syllables | 1 | 2 |
| Letters | 3 | 7 |
| Parts of speech | verb, noun, adjective | noun, adjective |
| Senses | 70 | 13 |
| How common | Core | Common |
| Synonyms | none recorded | film editing |
Full entry for cut · Full entry for cutting · More comparisons