cut off

verb

1. to remove by cutting

2. to intercept or interrupt something, esp a telephone conversation

3. to discontinue the supply of

   to cut off the water

4. to bring to an end

5. to deprive of rights; disinherit

   she was cut off without a penny

6. to sever or separate

   she was cut off from her family

7. to occupy a position so as to prevent or obstruct (a retreat or escape)

noun

1. 1. the act of cutting off; limit or termination

   2. ( as modifier )

      the cutoff point

2. a route or way that is shorter than the usual one; short cut

3. a device to terminate the flow of a fluid in a pipe or duct

4. Also called: offcut. the remnant of metal, plastic, etc, left after parts have been machined or trimmed

5. electronics

   1. the value of voltage, frequency, etc, below or above which an electronic device cannot function efficiently

   2. ( as modifier )

      cutoff voltage

6. a channel cutting across the neck of a meander, which leaves an oxbow lake

7. another name for oxbow

Idioms and Phrases

Separate from others, isolate, as in The construction debris cut off the workers from the canteen , or The new sect was cut off from the church . [Late 1500s]

Stop suddenly, discontinue, as in He quickly cut off the engine , or The drama was cut off by a news flash about tornado warnings . [Late 1500s]

Shut off, bar, Their phone was cut off when they didn't pay the bill , or Tom's father threatened to cut off his allowance . [c. 1600]

Interrupt the course or passage of, intercept, as in The operator cut us off , or The shortstop cut off the throw to the plate . [Late 1500s]

Also, . Disinherit, as in Grandfather cut him off with a shilling . This usage dates from the early 1700s; the purpose of bequeathing one shilling (a small sum) was to indicate that the heir had not been overlooked but was intentionally being disinherited. In America cent was substituted from about 1800 on.

Example Sentences

A second earthquake of magnitude 5.5 on Tuesday temporarily halted rescue operations, which have mostly been conducted by helicopters as debris from landslides cuts off access to remote villages.

From BBC

The two most populous countries have helped prop up Moscow's economy after its invasion of Ukraine left it cut off from most Western trade.

From BBC

Israel has recently approved an illegal settlement construction in the E1 area east of Jerusalem - a move that would effectively cut off the occupied West Bank from East Jerusalem and divide the territory in two.

From BBC

In the wake of the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, California outlawed controversial carotid restraints that can cut off breathing.

From Los Angeles Times

DHS has also threatened to cut off about $28 million in grants to help states prepare for terrorism and disasters if they don’t change voting rules to conform to the administration’s priorities, NPR has reported.

From Salon