chainsaw
UK /ˈt͡ʃeɪnˌsɔː/ · US /ˈt͡ʃeɪnˌsɔ/ noun, verb
Forms chainsaws chainsawing chainsawed chainsawn chain saw
- noun (forestry, machinery, DIY) A power saw that has a power-driven and fast-revolving chain of metal teeth, usually used to cut trees. “He used a chainsaw to cut through the fallen tree on the roadway.”
- verb (transitive, forestry, DIY) To cut with a chainsaw.
- verb (figurative) To make quick and substantial spending cuts.
Synonyms
Etymology
Compound of chain + saw in reference to the chain-cutting mechanism.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 — from the Wiktionary entry “chainsaw”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details