saw
saw
Saw (noun) means a hand or power tool with a toothed or abrasive blade, used for cutting hard materials like wood or metal. Example: “He used a saw to cut the plank in half.”
noun
1
A hand or power tool with a toothed or abrasive blade, used for cutting hard materials like wood or metal.
"He used a saw to cut the plank in half."
"Pass me the saw, and I'll trim the end of this board."
"The carpenter hung his saw on a hook beside the workbench."
2
An old saying or proverb.
"His grandfather was full of old saws about hard work and patience."
""A stitch in time saves nine" is an old saw that people still quote."
"My aunt repeats the old saw that you can't judge a book by its cover."
verb
1
To cut something using a saw, or to make a back-and-forth motion like sawing.
"She sawed through the branch in a few strokes."
"The violinist sawed away at the strings."
"He sawed the old table leg into short pieces for the fire."
How to use saw
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA cutting tool, the act of cutting with one, or (less commonly) an old saying.
Common pairings
saw wood
power saw
an old saw
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like saw.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- saws
- Third person singular
- saws
- Past tense
- sawed, sawn
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He used a _____ to cut the plank in half.
Etymology
From Old English saga/sagu, from a Germanic root related to "cutting" — the "old saying" sense comes from a separate Old English word meaning "speech."
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “saw” mean?
The word “saw” means a hand or power tool with a toothed or abrasive blade, used for cutting hard materials like wood or metal. In plain terms, a cutting tool, the act of cutting with one, or (less commonly) an old saying.
How do you pronounce “saw”?
“Saw” is pronounced saw (/sɔː/ in IPA).
How do you use “saw” in a sentence?
Here is “saw” used in a sentence: “He used a saw to cut the plank in half.”
What part of speech is “saw”?
Depending on how it is used, “saw” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “saw” come from?
The word “saw” comes from Old English. From Old English saga/sagu, from a Germanic root related to "cutting" — the "old saying" sense comes from a separate Old English word meaning "speech.".
Is “saw” a common word?
“Saw” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “saw” have?
“Saw” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a hand or power tool with a toothed or abrasive blade, used for cutting hard materials like wood or metal.
What are the types of saw?
Common hand saws include the general-purpose handsaw, the hacksaw for metal, the coping saw for curves, and the tenon saw for joints. Power saws include the circular saw, jigsaw, table saw, band saw, and chainsaw. Each is shaped for particular materials, cuts, and levels of precision.
What is a saw used for?
A saw is used to cut through hard materials, most often wood, but also metal, plastic, stone, or bone, depending on the blade. Its toothed or abrasive edge slices as it moves back and forth or spins. Saws are essential in carpentry, construction, metalwork, and many home repairs.
What is the difference between a saw and a hacksaw?
A hacksaw is one particular kind of saw. 'Saw' is the general word for any cutting tool with a toothed or abrasive blade. A hacksaw is a specific hand saw with a fine-toothed blade held in a C-shaped frame, designed mainly for cutting metal and plastic rather than wood.
Is 'saw' the same word as the past tense of 'see'?
No — they are spelled the same but unrelated. The noun 'saw' is a cutting tool, while 'saw' as a verb is the past tense of 'see,' as in 'I saw a film.' Words that share a spelling but differ in meaning like this are called homographs.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include saw:
