These words mean to penetrate and divide something by means of an instrument with a sharp edge. Hew usually means to make or shape by means of heavy blows of a tool such as an axe or by wielding a chisel or adze: the hew logs into short lengths; to hew stones into proper shapes for building a wall. Hew may also indicate a destructive act, although in this sense it tends to sound high-flown and literary: to hew down a mighty oak; to hew one’s adversary to pieces.

Chop means to divide into two or many pieces or to make a blow, or a series of blows, with a hatchet, cleaver, knife, etc.: to chop onions into small pieces; to chop open a coconut husk; to chop a hole in the ice.

Hack means to chop at something or to mangle or slash it away entirely by irregular and clumsy blows of a tool.

• The firemen were forced to hack down the door to rescue the children; The vandals had hacked furniture with knives; The little girl hacked off her long hair.

Cut has a much wider application than the other words and may be a loose synonym for any of them. Frequently an adverb must be added to make the meaning of the action clear: to cut up meat for a stew; to cut off a loose end; to cut down a dead bush. In many instances cut suggests care and forethought in what one is doing.

• It takes years for a butcher’s apprentice to learn to cut meat; The first step in making a dress is to cut out the pieces according to the pattern.