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Glite Dictionary
✂️ To divide ⛏️ To dig
to cut into

to cut into

28 4.5
To loosen and move soil with a tool like a spade
  • phrasal verb
  • /kʌt ˈɪntu/
: 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
652 1.0

To move earth with a tool to make a hole

is specific to turning up earth rather than any material removal
to dig out
vsto cut into
36 3.2

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

describes general earth turning rather than freeing buried items
to gouge
vsto cut into
27 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 gouge out
vsto cut into
15 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 turn over
vsto cut into
3 3.4

Dig and loosen soil to prepare it for planting

focuses on turning up earth generally, not only planting preparation
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
1 6.5

To cut deep into a surface to make patterns or letters

is broader, covering any turning up or removing of earth
to ditch
vsto cut into
1 3.4

To dig a long, narrow trench to carry water away

is more general and not limited to drainage purposes

How Deep

to excavate
12 6.0
to bore
8 4.9
to dig
652 1.0
to cut into
28 4.5
to scratch
100 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'.