Cortante is an adjective in Spanish.
/kor'tante/
The term cortante generally refers to something that has the ability to cut or slice. It can describe physical objects, such as knives or blades, but is also used metaphorically to describe a severe or sharp tone in conversations or communications. It is a versatile word used frequently in both spoken and written Spanish, though slightly more common in written contexts, especially in technical or descriptive writing.
La cuchilla es muy cortante, así que ten cuidado al usarla.
The blade is very sharp, so be careful when using it.
Su respuesta fue cortante y no dejó lugar a dudas.
His reply was severe and left no room for doubt.
El diseño del nuevo producto tiene bordes cortantes que mejoran su estética.
The design of the new product has sharp edges that enhance its aesthetics.
The word cortante is featured in various idiomatic expressions where the idea of sharpness, both literally and figuratively, is conveyed:
Someone always likes to make cutting remarks in meetings.
"Cortante como un cuchillo."
As cutting as a knife.
His sarcasm is as cutting as a knife; he spares no one.
"Una mirada cortante."
A cutting look.
He gave me a cutting look when I mentioned that topic.
"Palabras cortantes."
Cutting words.
The word cortante comes from the verb cortar, which means "to cut." The suffix -ante indicates a characteristic or quality, thus implying something that has the quality of cutting.
This comprehensive breakdown of cortante aims to give you a deeper understanding of its usage in the Spanish language.