saw

noun

/sɔː/

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(often in compounds) a tool that has a long blade (= metal cutting part) with sharp points (called teeth) along one of its edges. A saw is moved backwards and forwards by hand or driven by electricity and is used for cutting wood or metal. see also buzz saw, chainsaw, circular saw, coping saw, fretsaw, hacksaw, handsaw, jigsaw, musical saw, tenon saw, whipsaw
(old-fashioned) a short phrase or sentence that states a general truth about life or gives advice
- As the old saw goes, you can't please all of the people all of the time.
Topics Suggestions and advicec2

Word Originnoun sense 1 Old English saga, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zaag. noun sense 2 Old English sagu ‘a saying, speech’, of Germanic origin; related to German Sage, also to say and saga.

saw

verb

/sɔː/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they saw	/sɔː/ /sɔː/
he / she / it saws	/sɔːz/ /sɔːz/
past simple sawed	/sɔːd/ /sɔːd/
past participle sawn	/sɔːn/ /sɔːn/
(North American English also) past participle sawed	/sɔːd/ /sɔːd/
-ing form sawing	/ˈsɔːɪŋ/ /ˈsɔːɪŋ/

Phrasal Verbs

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[intransitive, transitive] to use a saw to cut something
- The workmen sawed and hammered all day.
- + adv./prep. He accidentally sawed through a cable.
- saw something (+ adv./prep.) She sawed the plank in half.
see also whipsaw
Extra Examples
- She was still sawing away in the yard.
- He took out his pocket knife and sawed at the bolt.
- He was sawing through the trunk of the tree.
[intransitive, transitive] saw (away) (at something) | saw something to move something backwards and forwards on something as if using a saw
- She sawed away at her violin.
- He was sawing energetically at a loaf of bread.
past tense of see

Word Originverb Old English saga, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zaag.