Meaning & use
die cut
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Meanings
adjectivebefore a nountechnical
Cut into a specific shape using a metal blade, called a die, pressed through paper, card or other material.
Grammar: Often hyphenated before a noun: a die-cut sticker.
Patterns
- a die-cut shape
The brochure had a die-cut window showing the product inside.
She ordered die-cut stickers shaped like her cat.
A die-cut card folded into the shape of a house.
verbtransitivetechnical
To cut material into a particular shape with a metal die.
Grammar: Takes an object: die cut the label.
Patterns
- die cut something
The factory die cuts thousands of labels each hour.
We die cut the foam to fit the camera exactly.
They die cut the cardboard before gluing it.
Word forms
| third person singular | die cuts |
|---|---|
| past tense | die cut |
| past participle | die cut |
| -ing form | die cutting |
Common combinations
- die-cut sticker
- He gave away a die-cut sticker with every order.
- die-cut label
- The die-cut label matched the bottle's curve.
- die-cut packaging
- Die-cut packaging protects fragile items.
- custom die cut
- They paid for a custom die cut.
- die-cut machine
- The die-cut machine jammed twice today.
Synonyms and how they differ
- stamped out
- General for pressing shapes from sheets, without a specific blade design.
- punched
- Describes a small hole or shape, usually smaller than a die cut.
- laser-cut
- Uses a laser rather than a blade and allows finer detail.
Word family
- die noun
- a tool that cuts or shapes material
- die cutter noun
- a machine or person that cuts with a die
- die cutting noun
- the process
Commonly confused: die cut or dye-cast?
die cut vs dye-cast
Not a real term; dye colors fabric, while a die is a cutting tool.
Practice
What makes a sticker die-cut?
Choose one answer.
Die-cut means cut to a custom shape with a die. The other options describe color, material or packaging.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “die cut”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.