Nearby Words

saw

[saw] Example Sentences Origin

saw

1[saw] noun, verb, sawed, sawed or sawn, saw·ing.
noun
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.
verb (used with object)
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.

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Saw is one of our favorite verbs.
So is bowdlerise. Does it mean:
to bark; yelp.
to expurgate (a written work) by removing or modifying passages considered vulgar or objectionable.
verb (used without object)
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.

Origin:
before 1000; (noun) Middle English sawe, Old English saga, *sagu; cognate with Dutch zaag, Old Norse sǫg; akin to German Säge saw, Latin secāre to cut (see section), Old English seax knife, sax2; (v.) Middle English sawen, derivative of the noun

saw·er, noun
saw·like, adjective
Example Sentences
  • For instance, they saw a bright future for e-textbooks.
  • Those unlucky enough to live through the bear markets saw their savings turn to dust.
  • They saw lots of activity in upper parts of the brain when dieters exercised restraint.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged

saw

2[saw]
verb
simple past tense of see1.

saw

3[saw]
noun
a sententious saying; maxim; proverb: He could muster an old saw for every occasion.

Origin:
before 950; Middle English; Old English sagu; cognate with German Sage, Old Norse saga saga; akin to say1

see

1[see] verb, saw, seen, see·ing.
verb (used with object)
1.
to perceive with the eyes; look at.
2.
to view; visit or attend as a spectator: to see a play.
3.
to perceive by means of computer vision.
4.
to scan or view, especially by electronic means: The satellite can see the entire southern half of the country.
5.
to perceive (things) mentally; discern; understand: to see the point of an argument.
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6.
to construct a mental image of; visualize: He still saw his father as he was 25 years ago.
7.
to accept or imagine or suppose as acceptable: I can't see him as president.
8.
to be cognizant of; recognize: to see the good in others; to see where the mistake is.
9.
to foresee: He could see war ahead.
10.
to ascertain, learn, or find out: See who is at the door.
11.
to have knowledge or experience of: to see service in the foreign corps.
12.
to make sure: See that the work is done.
13.
to meet and converse with: Are you seeing her at lunch today?
14.
to receive as a visitor: The ambassador finally saw him.
15.
to visit: He's gone to see his aunt.
16.
to court, keep company with, or date frequently: They've been seeing each other for a long time.
17.
to provide aid or assistance to; take care of: He's seeing his brother through college.
18.
to attend or escort: to see someone home.
19.
Cards. to match (a bet) or match the bet of (a bettor) by staking an equal sum; call: I'll see your five and raise you five more.
20.
to prefer (someone or something) to be as indicated (usually used as a mild oath): I'll see you in hell before I sell you this house. He'll see the business fail before he admits he's wrong.
21.
to read or read about: I saw it in the newspaper.
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verb (used without object)
22.
to have the power of sight.
23.
to be capable of perceiving by means of computer vision.
24.
to understand intellectually or spiritually; have insight: Philosophy teaches us to see.
25.
to give attention or care: See, there it goes.
26.
to find out; make inquiry: Go and see for yourself.
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27.
to consider; think; deliberate: Let me see, how does that song go?
28.
to look about; observe: They heard the noise and came out to see.
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29.
see about,
a.
to investigate; inquire about.
b.
to turn one's attention to; take care of: He said he would see about getting the license plates.
30.
see after, to attend to; take care of: Will you please see after my plants while I'm away?
31.
see off, to take leave of someone setting out on a journey; accompany to the place of departure: I went to the airport to see them off.
32.
see out, to remain with (a task, project, etc.) until its completion: We decided to see it out, even if it meant another year.
33.
see through,
a.
to penetrate to the true nature of; comprehend; detect: He quickly saw through my story.
b.
to stay with to the end or until completion; persevere: to see a difficult situation through.
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34.
see to, to take care of; be responsible for: I'll see to the theater tickets.
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Origin:
before 900; Middle English seen, Old English sēon; cognate with Dutch zien, German sehen, Old Norse sjā, Gothic saihwan

see·a·ble, adjective
see·a·ble·ness, noun
un·see·a·ble, adjective


1. observe, notice, distinguish, discern, behold, regard. See watch. 5. comprehend, penetrate. 10. determine. 11. know, undergo. 18. accompany.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source Link To saw
Collins
World English Dictionary
saw1 (sɔː)
 
n
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
 
vb , saws, sawing, sawed, sawed, 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
 
[Old English sagu; related to Old Norse sog, Old High German saga, Latin secāre to cut, secūris axe]
 
'sawer1
 
n
 
'sawlike1
 
adj

saw2 (sɔː)
 
vb
the past tense of see

saw3 (sɔː)
 
n
a wise saying, maxim, or proverb
 
[Old English sagu a saying; related to saga]

SAW
 
abbreviation for
surface acoustic wave

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

saw
"cutting tool," O.E. sagu, from P.Gmc. *sago "a cutting tool" (cf. O.E. seax "knife," O.N. sõg, Norw. sag, Dan. sav, M.Du. saghe, Du. zaag, O.H.G. saga, Ger. Säge "saw"), from PIE base *sak-/*sek- "to cut" (cf. L. secare "to cut," Rus. sech' "to cut;" see
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section). The verb is attested from early 13c.; strong conjugation began 15c. on model of draw, etc. Sawbones "surgeon" is 1837 slang; sawdust is 1520s; sawhorse recorded from 1778; sawfish first attested 1660s. The personal name Sawyer is attested from mid-13c. (cf. lawyer). Sawed-off "short, cut short" is attested 1887 of persons, 1898 of shotguns.

saw
"proverb," O.E. sagu "saying, discourse, speech," from P.Gmc. *saga-, *sagon- (cf. M.L.G., M.Du. sage, zage, Ger. sage "legend, fable, saga, myth, tradition," O.N. saga "story, tale, saga") from the root of O.E. secgan "say" (see say).

see
"position of a bishop," c.1300, from O.Fr. sied, sed, from L. sedem (nom. sedes) "seat, abode," related to sedere "to sit" (see sedentary).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary

see definition


  1. tv.
    to equal someone's bet in poker. : I see your five and raise you ten.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases

saw

see old saw.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Idioms & Phrases
Images for saw
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