saw

Universal Words noun, verb-see also SEEv. noun 1 (often in compounds) a tool that has a long blade 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. seealsoCHAINSAW, CIRCULARSAW, HACKSAW, HANDSAW, JIGSAW 2 (old-fashioned) a short phrase or sentence that states a general truth about life or gives advice verb (sawed, sawn ) (AmE also sawed, sawed) 1 to use a saw to cut sth: [V] The workmen sawed and hammered all day. * He accidentally sawed through a cable. * [VN] She sawed the plank in half. 2 ~ (away) (at sth) to move sth backwards and forwards on sth as if using a saw: [V] She sawed away at her violin. * He was sawing energetically at a loaf of bread. [also VN] PHRASALVERBS saw sth<->down to cut sth and bring it to the ground using a saw: The tree had to be sawn down. saw sth<->off