serrate

[ adjective ser-eyt, -it; verb ser-eyt, suh-reyt ]

adjective

1. Chiefly Biology. notched on the edge like a saw:

   a serrate leaf.

2. Numismatics. (of a coin) having a grooved edge.
3. serrated.

verb (used with object)

, ser·rat·ed, ser·rat·ing.

1. to make serrate or serrated:

   He serrated the knives so they would cut meat easily.

serrate

adjective

1. (of leaves) having a margin of forward pointing teeth
2. having a notched or sawlike edge

verb

1. tr to make serrate

Other Words From

• sub·serrate adjective
• un·serrate adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of serrate¹

1590–1600; < Latin serrātus, equivalent to serr ( a ) saw + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of serrate¹

C17: from Latin serrātus saw-shaped, from serra a saw