saw

saw¹ [so: US so:]

the past tense of ↑see

saw ²

saw² n

[: Old English; Origin: sagu]

1.) a tool that you use for cutting wood. It has a flat blade with an edge cut into many V shapes

2.) a short, familiar phrase or sentence that is considered to contain some truth about life

= ↑proverb, saying ↑saying

▪ That reminds me of the old saw about being careful about what you wish for.

saw ³

saw³ past tense sawed past participle sawn [so:n US so:n] or sawed AmE

v [I and T]

to cut something using a saw

▪ She was in the back yard sawing logs.

saw through

▪ He sawed through a power cable by mistake.

saw at [saw at sth] phr v

to cut something with a repeated backwards and forwards movement

▪ He sawed at the loaf with a blunt knife.

saw off [saw sth<=>off] phr v

to remove something by cutting it off with a saw

▪ We sawed off the dead branches.

saw up [saw sth<=>up] phr v

to cut something into many pieces, using a saw

▪ The tree was cut down and sawn up for logs.