Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense saws, present participle sawing, past tense sawed, past participle sawn
1.
Saw is the past tense of see.
2. countable noun
A saw is a tool for cutting wood, which has a blade with sharp teeth along one edge. Some saws are pushed backwards and forwards by hand, and others are powered by electricity.
3. See also chain saw
4. verb
If you saw something, you cut it with a saw.
He escaped by sawing through the bars of his cell. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Your father is sawing wood. [VERB noun]
saw in British English1
(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
verbWord forms: saws, sawing, sawed, sawed or sawn
3.
to cut with a saw
4.
to form by sawing
5.
to cut as if wielding a saw
to saw the air
6.
to move (an object) from side to side as if moving a saw
Derived forms
sawer (ˈsawer)
noun
sawlike (ˈsawˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
Old English sagu; related to Old Norse sog, Old High German saga, Latin secāre to cut, secūris axe
saw in British English2
(sɔː)
verb
the past tense of see1
saw in British English3
(sɔː)
noun
a wise saying, maxim, or proverb
Word origin
Old English sagu a saying; related to saga
SAW in British English
abbreviation for
surface acoustic wave
surface acoustic wave in British English
noun
an acoustic wave generated on the surface of a piezoelectric substrate: used as a filter in electronic circuits
saw in American English1
(sɔ)
noun
1.
a.
a cutting tool, of various shapes and sizes and worked by hand or machinery, consisting essentially of a thin blade or disk of metal, usually steel, the edge of which is a series of sharp teeth
b.
any of various tools or devices somewhat like this but with a sharp edge instead of teeth
2.
a machine for operating a saw or saws
verb transitiveWord forms: sawed, sawed or Chiefly British sawn, ˈsawing
3.
to cut or divide with a saw
4.
to shape or form with a saw
5.
to make sawlike cutting motions through (the air, etc.)
6.
to operate or produce with a to-and-fro motion suggestive of that used in working a saw
to saw a knife through meat, to saw a tune on a fiddle
verb intransitive
7.
to cut with or as with a saw or as a saw does
8.
to be cut with a saw
wood that saws easily
9.
to make sawlike cutting motions
Idioms:
saw wood
Derived forms
sawer (ˈsawer)
noun
Word origin
ME sawe < OE sagu, akin to Ger säge, Du zaag < IE base *sek-, to cut, > L secare, to cut, OE seax, knife
saw in American English2
(sɔ)
noun
an old saying, often repeated; maxim; proverb
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈsaying
Word origin
ME sawe < OE sagu: see say
saw in American English3
(sɔ)
verb transitive, verb intransitive
pt. of
see1
Examples of 'saw' in a sentence
saw
The old saw says that politics is showbiz for ugly people.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The harsh reality hit home when you went in and saw people leaving and clearing their desks.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
What the public saw was something else.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Saw one shot from distance bobble wide.
The Sun (2013)
Surely a circular saw makes far too much noise for any simultaneous talk to be heard?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Thankfully common sense has been returned to a policy that many saw as more about cutting costs than cutting crime.
The Sun (2011)
The religious man used the saw.
Pressley, Michael & McCormick, Christine Advanced Educational Psychology For Educators, Researchers and Policymakers, (1995)
He is kicking around somewhere, menacingly sawing wood with what sounds like a chainsaw.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Security sources said that the assailants used a saw to cut metal bars from the ship's railings.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
These herbaceous perennials have tough underground stems, and you may need to use a small saw to cut them up.
The Sun (2016)
He had to saw through the wood before lifting the creature out and releasing it by a garden pond in Norwich.
The Sun (2016)
I have a saw in one hand, a grand piano in the other.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He said: 'He saw what happened as the car went out of control.
The Sun (2013)
Word lists with
saw
tool
In other languages
saw
British English: saw /sɔː/ NOUN
A saw is a tool for cutting wood, which has a blade with sharp teeth along one edge.
American English: saw
Arabic: مِنْشَار
Brazilian Portuguese: serra
Chinese: 锯子
Croatian: pila
Czech: pila
Danish: sav
Dutch: zaag
European Spanish: sierra
Finnish: saha
French: scie
German: Säge
Greek: πριόνι
Italian: sega
Japanese: のこぎり
Korean: 톱
Norwegian: sag
Polish: piła
European Portuguese: serra
Romanian: ferăstrău
Russian: пила
Latin American Spanish: sierra
Swedish: såg verktyg
Thai: เลื่อย
Turkish: testere
Ukrainian: пила
Vietnamese: cưa
British English: saw VERB
If you saw something, you cut it with a saw.
He escaped by sawing through the bars of his cell.
I sawed the dead branches off the tree.
American English: saw
Brazilian Portuguese: serrar
Chinese: 锯
European Spanish: serrar
French: scier
German: sägen
Italian: segare
Japanese: のこぎりで切る
Korean: 톱으로 켜다
European Portuguese: serrar
Latin American Spanish: serrar
All related terms of 'saw'
see
When you see something, you notice it using your eyes.
Chickasaw
a member of a Native American people of N Mississippi
bow saw
a saw having a narrow blade held at both ends by a bowed handle
saw log
a log large enough for sawing into lumber
saw-off
a deadlock or stalemate
saw-pit
(esp formerly) a pit above which a log is sawn into planks with a large pitsaw
saw set
a tool used for setting the teeth of a saw , consisting of a type of clamp used to bend each tooth in turn at a slight angle to the plane of the saw to improve cutting , alternate teeth being bent in the same direction
band saw
a power-operated saw consisting of an endless toothed metal band running over and driven by two wheels
buzz saw
a power-operated circular saw
chain saw
A chain saw is a big saw with teeth fixed in a chain that is driven round by a motor .
crown saw
a hollow cylinder with cutting teeth forming a rotary saw for trepanning
frame saw
a saw with a thin blade held in a specially shaped frame
fret saw
a fine-toothed saw with a long thin narrow blade , used for cutting designs in thin wood or metal
gang saw
a saw having several parallel blades making simultaneous cuts
hole saw
a hollow cylinder with teeth on the bottom edge attached by means of a bit , as to a portable electric drill , and used for cutting circles
panel saw
a saw with a long narrow blade for cutting thin wood
power saw
a saw driven by a motor
rack saw
a wide-toothed saw
sabre saw
a portable electric saw with a narrow, oscillating blade
sash saw
a small tenon saw used for cutting sashes
saw edge
the serrated edge of a saw
saw grass
any of a number of related sedges with saw-edged leaves; esp., the Jamaica saw grass ( Cladium jamaicense ) found in the SE U.S.
saw wood
to snore or sleep
saw-wort
a perennial Old World plant, Serratula tinctoria, having serrated leaves that yield a yellow dye : family Asteraceae ( composites )
Skil Saw
a portable electric saw
span saw
a saw with a thin blade held in a specially shaped frame
stone saw
an untoothed iron saw used to cut stone
sweep-saw
a saw with a thin blade that can be used for cutting curved shapes
table saw
a circular saw mounted on the underside of a table through which its blade projects: work to be sawed is placed on the table
tenon saw
a small fine-toothed saw with a strong back, used esp for cutting tenons
compass saw
a hand saw with a narrow tapered blade for making a curved cut
coping saw
a handsaw with a U-shaped frame used for cutting curves in a material too thick for a fret saw
keyhole saw
a saw with a long narrow blade , used for cutting small holes
musical saw
a handsaw held upright between the knees and variously flexed and stroked with a violin bow to produce musical tones
saw doctor
a sawmill specialist who sharpens and services saw blades
saw-toothed
having notches along the edge like the teeth of a saw ; serrate
scroll saw
a saw with a narrow blade for cutting intricate ornamental curves in wood
circular saw
A circular saw is a round metal disc with a sharp edge which is used for cutting wood and other materials.
crosscut saw
a saw for cutting timber across the grain
dovetail saw
a saw similar to a tenon saw but of smaller size
flooring saw
a type of saw curved at the end for cutting through floorboards
grooving saw
a circular saw used for making grooves
saw palmetto
any of several dwarf prickly palms, esp any of the genus Sabal , of the southeastern US
saw-whet owl
a very small North American forest owl ( Aegolius acadicus ) with brown-and-white plumage
see of
to meet ; be in contact with
see to
If you see to something that needs attention , you deal with it.
skip-tooth saw
a saw with alternate teeth absent
hacksaw
A hacksaw is a small saw used for cutting metal.
jigsaw
A jigsaw or jigsaw puzzle is a picture on cardboard or wood that has been cut up into odd shapes. You have to make the picture again by putting the pieces together correctly.
pitsaw
a large saw formerly used for cutting logs into planks , operated by two people, one standing on top of the log and the other in a pit underneath it
Chinese translation of 'saw'
saw
(sɔː)
Word forms:ptsawed
Word forms:ppsawedsawn
pt
ofsee
vt
锯(鋸) (jù)
vi
to saw through sth锯(鋸)断(斷)某物 (jùduàn mǒuwù)
n(c)
锯(鋸)子 (jùzi) (把, bǎ)
to saw sth in half将(將)某物锯(鋸)成两(兩)半 (jiāng mǒuwù jùchéng liǎng bàn)
see
(siː)
Word forms:ptsaw
Word forms:ppseen
vt
看见(見) (kànjiàn)
⇒ Did you see what happened?你看见发生的事了吗？ (Nǐ kànjiàn fāshēng de shì le ma?)
(= meet)[person]见(見) (jiàn)
⇒ I'll see you at the cinema.我在电影院见你。 (Wǒ zài diànyǐngyuàn jiàn nǐ.)
⇒ You need to see a doctor.你需要去看医生。 (Nǐ xūyào qù kàn yīshēng.)
(= watch)[film, play]看 (kàn)
⇒ the best film I've ever seen我看过的最好的电影 (wǒ kànguo de zuì hǎo de diànyǐng)
(= look at)[letter, document, picture etc]看 (kàn)
⇒ Did you see the article by Professor Gray?你看了格雷教授的文章了吗？ (Nǐ kànle Géléi jiàoshòu de wénzhāng le ma?)
(= understand) 明白 (míngbai)
⇒ I see what you mean.我明白你的意思了。 (Wǒ míngbai nǐ de yìsi le.)
(= notice) 意识(識)到 (yìshídào)
(= find out) 查明 (chámíng)
(= imagine) 想象 (xiǎngxiàng)
(= regard) 把 ... 当(當)做 (bǎ ... dàngzuò)
⇒ He saw her as a rival.他把她当成一个对手。 (Tā bǎ tā dàngchéng yī gè duìshǒu.)
(= witness)[change, event]目睹 (mùdǔ)
⇒ Yesterday saw the resignation of the disgraced Minister.昨天威望扫地的部长辞职了。 (Zuótiān wēiwàng sǎodì de bùzhǎng cízhí le.)
vi
看见(見) (kànjiàn)
⇒ It's dark and I can't see.太黑了，我看不见。 (Tài hēi le, wǒ kàn bù jiàn.)
I can see something我能看见(見)某物 (wǒ néng kànjiàn mǒuwù)
to see sb doing/do sth看见(見)某人做某事 (kànjiàn mǒurén zuò mǒushì)
there was nobody to be seen看不见(見)任何人 (kàn bù jiàn rènhé rén)
have you seen my glasses?你看见(見)我的眼镜(鏡)了吗(嗎)？ (nǐ kànjiàn wǒde yǎnjìng le ma?)
I don't know what she sees in him我不知道她看中他哪一点(點) (wǒ bù zhīdào tā kànzhòng tā nǎ yīdiǎn)
to go and see sb去见(見)某人 (qù jiàn mǒurén)
see Chapter 6参(參)见(見)第6章 (cānjiàn dì liù zhāng)
to see that ... (= realize, notice) 意识(識)到 ... (yìshídào ... )
⇒ I could see she was lonely.我察觉到她很孤独。 (Wǒ chájuédào tā hěn gūdú.)
(= ensure) 确(確)保 (quèbǎo)
to see if (= find out if) 查看 ... 是否 (chákàn ... shìfǒu)
⇒ I'll see if she's available.我去看看她是否有空。 (Wǒ qù kànkan tā shìfǒu yǒu kòng.)
I can see him doing really well (= envisage) 我可以想象他将(將)干(幹)得不错(錯) (wǒ kěyǐ xiǎngxiàng tā jiāng gàn de bùcuò)
see you (soon)! (inf) 再见(見)！ (zàijiàn!)
see you later!一会(會)儿(兒)见(見)！ (yīhuìr jiàn!)
to see sb to the door送某人出门(門) (sòng mǒurén chūmén)
I'll see what I can do我会(會)看看能做些什么(麼) (wǒ huì kànkan néng zuò xiē shénme)
let me see, let's see (= show me) 让(讓)我看看吧 (ràng wǒ kànkan ba) (= let me think) 让(讓)我想一想 (ràng wǒ xiǎng yī xiǎng)
I see我明白 (wǒ míngbai)
you see (in explanations) 你知道 (nǐ zhīdào)
we'll see看看再说(說) (kànkan zài shuō)
see for yourself你自己看看 (nǐ zìjǐ kànkan)
as far as I can see就我看来(來) (jiù wǒ kànlái)
All related terms of 'saw'
see
看见(見) kànjiàn ⇒ Did you see what happened? → 你看见发生的事了吗？ Nǐ kànjiàn fāshēng de shì le ma?
saw up
把 ... 锯(鋸)成小块(塊) ba ... jùchéng xiǎokuài
the man that I saw
我见(見)过(過)的那个(個)男的 wǒ jiànguo de nàge nán de
to saw sth in half
将(將)某物锯(鋸)成两(兩)半 jiāng mǒuwù jùchéng liǎng bàn
to saw through sth
锯(鋸)断(斷)某物 jùduàn mǒuwù
see to
( deal with ) 处(處)理 chǔlǐ ⇒ Franklin saw to the luggage. → 福兰克林负责照管行李。 Fúlánkèlín fùzé zhàoguǎn xíngli.
they saw both of us
我们(們)两(兩)个(個)他们(們)都见(見)了 wǒmen liǎng gè tāmen dōu jiàn le
see off
( say goodbye to ) 向 ... 告别(別) xiàng ... gàobié
see out
( see to the door ) 送 sòng
we never saw him again
我们(們)再没(沒)有见(見)过(過)他 wǒmen zài méiyǒu jiànguo tā
when next I saw him ...
当(當)我再一次看到他的时(時)候 ... dāng wǒ zài yī cì kàndào tā de shíhou ...
I saw her only last week
我上周(週)才见(見)了她 wǒ shàngzhōu cái jiànle tā
see about
( deal with ) 处(處)理 chǔlǐ
I got a shock when I saw him
当(當)我看见(見)他时(時)我惊(驚)呆了 dāng wǒ kànjiàn tā shí wǒ jīngdāi le
I saw someone in the garden
我看见(見)花园(園)里(裡)有人 wǒ kànjiàn huāyuán li yǒu rén
I saw what was on the table
我看见(見)了桌上的东(東)西 wǒ kànjiànle zhuō shang de dōngxi
see through
( help : person ) 帮(幫)助 ... 渡过(過)难(難)关(關) bāngzhù ... dùguò nánguān ⇒ $50 should see you through. → 50美金应该能够帮你渡过难关。 Wǔshí měijīn yīnggāi nénggòu bāng nǐ dùguò nánguān. ⇒ He saw me through the hard times. → 他曾帮我度过艰难岁月。 Tā céng bāng wǒ dùguò jiānnán suìyuè.
the man whom I saw/to whom I spoke
我见(見)到的/我跟他说(說)过(過)话(話)的那个(個)男的 wǒ jiàndào de/wǒ gēn tā shuōguo huà de nàge nán de
(noun)
Definition
a wise saying or proverb
(old-fashioned)
Synonyms
saying
that old saying: `Charity begins at home'
maxim
I believe in the maxim `if it ain't broke, don't fix it'.
gnome
adage
The old adage `Every baby brings its own love' usually turns out true.
proverb
the old proverb `where there's a will, there's a way`
dictum
the dictum that it is preferable to be roughly right than precisely wrong
axiom
the long-held axiom that education leads to higher income
aphorism
one of his favoured aphorisms
byword
Loyalty, support, and secrecy became the bywords of the day.
apophthegm
Additional synonyms
in the sense of adage
Definition
a traditional saying that is generally accepted as being true
The old adage `Every baby brings its own love' usually turns out true.
Synonyms
saying,
motto,
maxim,
proverb,
dictum,
precept,
by-word,
saw (old-fashioned),
axiom,
aphorism,
apophthegm (rare)
in the sense of aphorism
Definition
a short clever saying expressing a general truth
one of his favoured aphorisms
Synonyms
saying,
maxim,
gnome,
adage,
proverb,
dictum,
precept,
axiom,
apothegm,
saw
in the sense of axiom
Definition
a generally accepted principle
the long-held axiom that education leads to higher income
Synonyms
principle,
fundamental,
maxim,
gnome,
adage,
postulate,
dictum,
precept,
aphorism,
truism,
apophthegm
Synonyms of 'saw'
saw
Explore 'saw' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of byword
Definition
a common saying
Loyalty, support, and secrecy became the bywords of the day.
Synonyms
saying,
slogan,
motto,
maxim,
gnome,
adage,
proverb,
epithet,
dictum,
precept,
aphorism,
saw (old-fashioned),
apophthegm
in the sense of dictum
Definition
a popular saying or maxim
the dictum that it is preferable to be roughly right than precisely wrong
Synonyms
saying,
saw (old-fashioned),
maxim,
adage,
proverb,
precept,
axiom,
gnome
in the sense of maxim
Definition
a brief expression of a general truth, principle, or rule of conduct
I believe in the maxim `if it ain't broke, don't fix it'.
Synonyms
saying,
motto,
adage,
proverb,
rule,
saw (old-fashioned),
gnome,
dictum,
axiom,
aphorism,
byword,
apophthegm
in the sense of proverb
Definition
a short memorable saying that expresses a truth or gives a warning, for example is half a loaf is better than no bread
the old proverb `where there's a will, there's a way`
Synonyms
saying,
saw (old-fashioned),
maxim,
gnome,
adage,
dictum,
aphorism,
byword,
apophthegm
All related terms of 'saw'
see
perceive, note, spot, notice, mark
saw-toothed
serrated, notched, dentate, serrate, crenate
see someone off
say goodbye to, wave goodbye to, wave off
see about something
take care of, deal with, look after, see to, attend to
see over something
look round, tour, inspect, see round, go on a tour of