Meaning & use
jigsaw
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A picture puzzle made of many oddly shaped pieces that fit together.
Grammar: Countable: you can say a jigsaw or two jigsaws; it often appears in the phrase do a jigsaw.
Patterns
- do a jigsaw
- a jigsaw puzzle
- a piece of a jigsaw
We spent the rainy afternoon doing a 1000-piece jigsaw.
She gave me a jigsaw of a mountain scene for my birthday.
The last piece of the jigsaw was missing.
nouncountabletechnical
A power saw with a thin blade that cuts curves and shapes in wood or metal.
Grammar: Countable; often used with a: a jigsaw. It is short for jigsaw saw.
Patterns
- use a jigsaw
- cut something with a jigsaw
He used a jigsaw to cut the curved edge of the shelf.
A jigsaw is perfect for making holes in a countertop.
Word forms
| plural | jigsaws |
|---|
Common combinations
- jigsaw puzzle
- The children worked on a jigsaw puzzle together.
- piece of a jigsaw
- I found the missing piece of the jigsaw under the sofa.
- do a jigsaw
- My grandmother likes to do a jigsaw in the evening.
- jigsaw blade
- You need a fine jigsaw blade for this thin wood.
Synonyms and how they differ
- puzzle
- Puzzle is a general word for any game or problem that makes you think, while jigsaw specifically means the picture made of interlocking pieces.
Word family
- jigsaw puzzle noun
- A fuller way to say jigsaw when talking about the picture puzzle.
Commonly confused: jigsaw or saw?
jigsaw vs saw
A saw is a general cutting tool; a jigsaw is a specific power saw with a thin blade for curves.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'jigsaw' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A jigsaw is a power saw, so 'with a jigsaw' fits. 'Jigsaw puzzle' is the picture puzzle, not a tool; 'jigsaw piece' is one part of that puzzle; 'jigsawing' is not a noun for a tool.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “jigsaw”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.