View synonyms for saw

saw

[ saw ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a tool or device for cutting, typically a thin blade of metal with a series of sharp teeth.
any similar tool or device, as a rotating disk, in which a sharp continuous edge replaces the teeth.

verb (used with object)

sawed, sawed or sawn, sawing.

to cut or divide with a saw.
to form by cutting with a saw.
to make cutting motions as if using a saw:
to saw the air with one's hands.
to work (something) from side to side like a saw.

verb (used without object)

sawed, sawed or sawn, sawing.

to use a saw.
to cut with or as if with a saw.
to cut as a saw does.

saw

[ saw ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb

simple past tense of see ¹.

saw

[ saw ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a sententious saying; maxim; proverb:
He could muster an old saw for every occasion.

SAW

abbreviation for

surface acoustic wave

saw

/ sɔː /

noun

any of various hand tools for cutting wood, metal, etc, having a blade with teeth along one edge
any of various machines or devices for cutting by use of a toothed blade, such as a power-driven circular toothed wheel or toothed band of metal

verb

to cut with a saw
to form by sawing
to cut as if wielding a saw
to saw the air
to move (an object) from side to side as if moving a saw

saw

/ sɔː /

verb

the past tense of see 1

saw

⁴

/ sɔː /

noun

a wise saying, maxim, or proverb

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Derived Forms

ˈsawer, noun
ˈsawˌlike, adjective

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Other Words From

sawer noun
sawlike adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of saw¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English noun sau(e), soue, zaue, Old English saga, sagu; cognate with Dutch zaag, Old Norse sǫg, German Säge, all meaning “saw”; akin to Latin secāre “to cut,” Old English seax “short sword, knife, dagger”; the verb is derivative of the noun; sax ², section

Origin of saw²

First recorded before 950; Middle English sau(e), sauhe, sagh(e) “talk, words, something said,” Old English sagu “a saying, speech, narrative”; cognate with German Sage “legend, fable, myth, tradition,” Old Norse saga “statement, tale, story, history”; saga, say ¹

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Word History and Origins

Origin of saw¹

Old English sagu; related to Old Norse sog, Old High German saga, Latin secāre to cut, secūris axe

Origin of saw²

Old English sagu a saying; related to saga

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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

saw wood, Informal. to snore loudly while sleeping.

More idioms and phrases containing saw

see old saw .

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Example Sentences

A Times employee who was shopping for a car at the dealership before the incident said he saw the customer yelling at staff, who tried to calm him down.

From Los Angeles Times

The recent spring warmth we saw during the weekend has been replaced by a colder weather pattern, with northerly winds bringing chilly air all the way from the Arctic.

From BBC

Duterte, who contested his extradition, led the Philippines from 2016 to 2022 and presided over a violent "war on drugs" that saw thousands of small-time drug dealers, users and others killed without trial.

From BBC

That first phase ultimately saw Hamas return 25 living Israeli hostages and the remains of eight others - in exchange for about 1,800 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel – as well as five living Thai hostages.

From BBC

But Wilson saw the situation differently, citing a series of factors about Mitchell’s traumatic upbringing in the foster-care system, history of addiction and “believable remorse” as justification for a shorter sentence.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

saying

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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