chain saw

noun

: a portable power saw that has teeth linked together to form an endless chain
chainsaw
ˈchān-ˌsȯ How to pronounce chain saw (audio)
transitive verb

Examples of chain saw in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Please, please, stop cutting our federal government with a chain saw. — Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025 And with that chain saw, the president has begun dismembering America’s great scientific institutions. — Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2025 Something feels off — something other than Elon Musk’s waving that chain saw. — Donald Jason Raymond, National Review, 9 Mar. 2025 America’s hottest restaurant Despite a recent restaurant slowdown, this American chain saw its sales increase by a whopping 31% last quarter. — Alexandra Banner, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for chain saw

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chain saw was in 1920

Rhymes for chain saw

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Browse Nearby Words

chain saw
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Cite this Entry

“Chain saw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chain%20saw. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

chain saw

noun
: a portable power saw that has teeth linked together to form a continuous chain

More from Merriam-Webster on chain saw

Nglish: Translation of chain saw for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about chain saw

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