undercut

From Middle English undercutten, equivalent to under- +‎ cut.

• (noun) IPA^(key): /ˈʌndə(ɹ)kʌt/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• (Northern England) IPA^(key): /ˈʊndə(ɹ)kʊt/}
• (verb, adjective) IPA^(key): /ˌʌndə(ɹ)ˈkʌt/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• (Northern England) IPA^(key): /ʊndə(ɹ)ˈkʊt/
• Rhymes: -ʌt

undercut (plural undercuts)

1. A cut made in the lower part of something; the material so removed.
2. The notch cut in a tree to direct its fall when being felled.
3. The underside of a sirloin of beef; the fillet.
4. A hairstyle that is shaved or clipped short on the sides and kept long on the top.
5. A blow dealt upward.
6. (moldmaking) A section of a mold or pattern with negative draft angle
7. (motor racing) A pit stop strategy in which a driver seeks to gain an advantage over someone by pitting before them and using fresh tyres to make up time.

   Antonym: overcut

8. The continuation of the saddle of a rabbit's coat toward the front legs.

undercut (third-person singular simple present undercuts, present participle undercutting, simple past and past participle undercut)

1. To sell (something) at a lower price, or to work for lower wages, than a competitor.

   Synonym: undersell

   • 1959 November, J. N. Westwood, “The Railways of Canada”, in Trains Illustrated, page 555:

     The fact that, to cover low tariffs on bulk commodities, the railways have to charge very high rates on high-value goods, such as manufactures, has provided road operators with a golden opportunity to undercut the railway.

2. To create an overhang by cutting away material from underneath.
3. To undermine.
   • July 18 2012, Scott Tobias, AV Club The Dark Knight Rises

     Though Bane’s sing-song voice gives his pronouncements a funny lilt, he doesn’t have any of the Joker’s deranged wit, and Nolan isn’t interested in undercutting his seriousness for the sake of a breezier entertainment.

4. To strike a heavy blow upward.

undercut (not comparable)

1. Produced by undercutting.
2. Designed so as to cut from the underside.
3. Having the parts in relief cut under.

• untruced