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, 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.

saw

²

[saw]

verb

1. simple past tense of see.

saw

³

[saw]

noun

1. a sententious saying; maxim; proverb.

   He could muster an old saw for every occasion.

saw

¹

/ 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

SAW

²

abbreviation

1. surface acoustic wave

saw

³

/ sɔː /

verb

1. the past tense of see 1

saw

⁴

/ sɔː /

noun

1. a wise saying, maxim, or proverb

Other Word Forms

• sawer noun
• sawlike 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; 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

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. saw wood, to snore loudly while sleeping.

see old saw.

Example Sentences

From what we saw on Sunday, he’s exactly what people who love bold television need.

From Salon

The jury saw images of Mr Davies' cooker that had been disconnected, and when questioned, Mr Holder confirmed the disconnection had not been organised by the agency.

From BBC

The vagaries of the new league system last season saw Liverpool meet eventual winners PSG in the last 16, where they lost on penalties at Anfield.

From BBC

On the other flank, we saw clever movement from Reijnders on to Luke Shaw that prevented him from leaving the back five.

From BBC

At the end of last week’s penultimate episode, Conrad boarded a plane to find Belly in the City of Love as viewers saw her getting a dramatic haircut, ready for a new beginning.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• saying