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Glite Dictionary
✂️ To divide ⛏️ To dig
to cut into

to cut into

3 4.5
To loosen and move soil with a tool like a spade
  • phrasal verb
  • /kʌt ˈɪntu/
translation icon : cavar
  • To prepare the garden, they decided to cut into the ground and loosen the dirt.

Examples

  • She carefully cut into the earth with a spade to create space for the new plants.

  • Just follow the paths that they cut into the earth right back to their door.

    Blog text (27)

  • The convoy passes along a road cut into the side of the ridge.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • At planting, seed is slotted into a groove cut into the soil.

    Academic text (2003)

  • In this new technique, grooves are cut into the tension face of concrete beams to be subsequently filled with an epoxy resin.

    Academic text (2017)

  • Bwindi Impenetrable National Park encompasses some 130 square miles of wet, rugged hills cut into steep ravines by cold rushing streams.

    Academic text (2003)

  • The farmer used a plow to cut into the soil for planting the seeds.

Synonyms

to dig
vsto cut into
912 1.0

To move earth with a tool to make a hole

is specific to turning up earth rather than any material removal
to gouge
vsto cut into
20 7.2

To make a deep cut or hole in something with a sharp object

focuses on earth removal without implying forceful or sharp action
to dig out
vsto cut into
14 3.2

Remove something that is under the ground or snow using a shovel

describes general earth turning rather than freeing buried items
to turn over
vsto cut into
5 3.4

Dig and loosen soil to prepare it for planting

focuses on turning up earth generally, not only planting preparation
to gouge out
vsto cut into
5 7.4

To make a deep cut or groove in a surface by scraping

involves turning up earth but not necessarily by violent scraping
to ditch
vsto cut into
2 3.4

To dig a long, narrow trench to carry water away

is more general and not limited to drainage purposes
to delve
vsto cut into
1 6.3

To dig and loosen soil, for example with a spade

has identical meaning expressed in the other definition
to trench
vsto cut into
6.5

To cut deep into a surface to make patterns or letters

is broader, covering any turning up or removing of earth

How Deep

to excavate
10 6.0
to bore
1 4.9
to dig
912 1.0
to cut into
3 4.5
to scratch
161 1.1

Surface Forms

cut into infinitive
cut into past
cut into past participle
cutting into present participle
cuts into third person singular

Morphology

cut + into

The meaning 'to divide something into smaller pieces by cutting' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'cut' (to slice/separate) with 'into' (indicating movement/resulting partition inside something). This is a common compositional verb + preposition pattern found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

Cut into comes from working the ground. Imagine a spade or plow blade going down and making a clean line as it lifts and turns the soil — it literally cuts into the earth to loosen it. So, the phrase means 'to turn up or remove earth'.