What is "cut down"

vb. 1 (&lit cut down English) 2 (context transitive English) To bring down by cutting. 3 (context idiomatic transitive English) To insult, to belittle. 4 (context idiomatic English) To reduce the amount of something. 5 (context idiomatic dated English) To slay, often in great numbers.

1. adj. cut down; "the tree is down" [syn: cut, down]

2. v. cut down on; make a reduction in; "reduce your daily fat intake"; "The employer wants to cut back health benefits" [syn: reduce, cut back, trim, trim down, trim back, cut, bring down]

3. cut with sweeping strokes; as with an ax or machete [syn: slash]

4. cause to come or go down; "The policeman downed the heavily armed suspect"; "The mugger knocked down the old lady after she refused to hand over her wallet" [syn: down, knock down, push down, pull down]

5. intercept (a player) [syn: cut out]

6. cut with a blade or mower; "mow the grass" [syn: mow]

7. cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow; "strike down a tree"; "Lightning struck down the hikers" [syn: fell, drop, strike down]