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Definition of chainsaw

chainsaw

/ˈtʃeɪn.sɔː/
chain · saw
Plural:chainsaws
•
Past Simple:chainsawed
•
Past Participle:chainsawed
•
Present Participle:chainsawing
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chainsaw Lexical Profile

chainsaw Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A portable mechanical saw powered by gas, electricity, or a battery, featuring cutting teeth set on a continuous moving chain that rotates around a guide bar, used especially for felling trees and cutting wood.

Example

"The arborist used a heavy-duty chainsaw to clear the fallen oak branches after the storm."

• verb

1

To cut, fell, or shape something using a chainsaw.

Example

"It took the crew all morning to chainsaw the massive pine trunk into manageable logs."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for chainsaw

• Nearby Words

chainlink
chainmail
chainring
chainsaw
chainsmoker
chair
chairback

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 19th century as a compound of 'chain' and 'saw'; the earliest hand-cranked versions were originally invented in the late 18th century by Scottish doctors as a surgical instrument for cutting bone before being adapted for forestry.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Chainsaw. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/chainsaw
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