saw

¹ American  

[saw] / sɔ /

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.

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verb (used with object)

sawed, sawed, sawn, sawing

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, sawn, sawing

1. to use a saw.

2. to cut with or as if with a saw.

3. to cut as a saw does.

idioms

1. saw wood, to snore loudly while sleeping.

saw ² American  

[saw] / sɔ /

verb

1. simple past tense of see.

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saw ³ American  

[saw] / sɔ /

noun

1. a sententious saying; maxim; proverb.

   He could muster an old saw for every occasion.

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saw ¹ British  

/ 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

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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

SAW ² British  

abbreviation

1. surface acoustic wave

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saw ³ British  

/ sɔː /

verb

1. the past tense of see 1

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saw ⁴ British  

/ sɔː /

noun

1. a wise saying, maxim, or proverb

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saw More Idioms  

1. see old saw.

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Other Word Forms

• sawer noun
• sawlike adjective

Etymology

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; see also sax ², section

Origin of saw³

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”; see also saga, say ¹

Explanation

A saw is a tool that's used to cut wood. It can be a hand tool or a power tool, and it usually has either a blade or a disk with a jagged cutting edge. The verb saw means to cut through wood or another material using a saw or other tool. If you are going to build a bookcase, you have to saw the wood into the proper lengths. It's a good idea to measure it twice so you only have to saw it once. When you're faced with a tough piece of meat, you might have to saw at it just to cut off a bite.

Example Sentences

By contrast, Greece’s government saw its debt decline to 146.1% from 154.2%.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

“I saw his windup and he looked like he was calm and composed and I tried it. I felt more of a rhythm. I was able to calm down and pitch better,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

After that, analysts think inflation could peak near 4% this year, a fraction of the 11% we saw in 2022 at the start of the war in Ukraine.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

"Inflation climbed in March, largely due to increased fuel prices, which saw their largest increase for over three years," Grant Fitzner, chief economist at the ONS, said in a statement.

From Barron's • Apr. 22, 2026

Even as the angry, vengeful thoughts boiled through me, I saw the sin of them.

From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom

Related Words

• saying