saw 1
— sawer , n. — sawlike , adj.
/saw/ , n. , v. , sawed, sawed or sawn, sawing .
n.
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.
v.t.
3. to cut or divide with a saw.
4. to form by cutting with a saw.
5. to make cutting motions as if using a saw: to saw the air with one's hands.
6. to work (something) from side to side like a saw.
v.i.
7. to use a saw.
8. to cut with or as if with a saw.
9. to cut as a saw does.
10. saw wood , Informal. to snore loudly while sleeping.
[ bef. 1000; (n.) ME sawe, OE saga, * sagu; c. D zaag, ON sog; akin to G Säge saw, L secare to cut (see SECTION), OE seax knife, SAX 2 ; (v.) ME sawen, deriv. of the n. ]
saw 2
/saw/ , v.
pt. of see 1 .
saw 3
/saw/ , n.
a sententious saying; maxim; proverb: He could muster an old saw for every occasion.
[ bef. 950; ME; OE sagu; c. G Sage, ON saga SAGA; akin to SAY 1 ]