Meaning & use
fretsaw
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Meaning
nouncountable
A saw with a narrow blade held in a U-shaped frame, used for cutting intricate curves in thin materials like wood or metal.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a fretsaw' or 'two fretsaws'.
Patterns
- use a fretsaw
- cut something with a fretsaw
- fretsaw blade
He used a fretsaw to cut the curved design in the wood.
The fretsaw is ideal for making puzzles and small toys.
She bought a new fretsaw for her craft projects.
Word forms
| plural | fretsaws |
|---|
Common combinations
- fretsaw blade
- The fretsaw blade broke, so he replaced it.
- use a fretsaw
- You need to use a fretsaw for these delicate cuts.
- electric fretsaw
- An electric fretsaw makes the work faster but less precise.
Synonyms and how they differ
- scroll saw
- This is the more common American term for the same tool, especially the powered version.
- jigsaw
- A jigsaw is usually a power tool with a reciprocating blade; a fretsaw is typically a hand tool with a very thin blade.
Word family
- fretwork noun
- Decorative patterns cut with a fretsaw.
Commonly confused: fretsaw or jigsaw?
fretsaw vs jigsaw
A jigsaw is a power saw for cutting curves, while a fretsaw is a hand tool with a very fine blade for detailed work.
Practice
What is a fretsaw mainly used for?
Choose one answer.
A fretsaw has a very thin blade for detailed curved cuts in thin materials. It is not used for felling trees (that is an axe or chainsaw), smoothing (that is sandpaper or a plane), or drilling (that is a drill).
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “fretsaw”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.