saw

¹

[ saw ]

noun

1. a tool or device for cutting, typically a thin blade of metal with a series of sharp teeth.
2. 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, saw·ing.

1. to cut or divide with a saw.
2. to form by cutting with a saw.
3. to make cutting motions as if using a saw:

   to saw the air with one's hands.

4. to work (something) from side to side like a saw.

verb (used without object)

, sawed, sawed or sawn, saw·ing.

1. to use a saw.
2. to cut with or as if with a saw.
3. to cut as a saw does.

saw

²

[ saw ]

verb

1. simple past tense of see ¹.

saw

³

[ saw ]

noun

1. a sententious saying; maxim; proverb:

   He could muster an old saw for every occasion.

saw

¹

/ sɔː /

noun

1. a wise saying, maxim, or proverb

saw

²

/ sɔː /

verb

1. the past tense of see 1

SAW

³

abbreviation for

1. surface acoustic wave

saw

⁴

/ sɔː /

noun

1. any of various hand tools for cutting wood, metal, etc, having a blade with teeth along one edge
2. 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

1. to cut with a saw
2. to form by sawing
3. to cut as if wielding a saw

   to saw the air

4. to move (an object) from side to side as if moving a saw

Derived Forms

• ˈsawer, noun
• ˈsawˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• sawer noun
• sawlike adjective

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of saw¹

Old English sagu a saying; related to saga

Origin of saw²

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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. saw wood, Informal. to snore loudly while sleeping.

More idioms and phrases containing saw

see old saw .

Related Words

• saying