Meaning & use
sawdust
Last updated
UK/ˈsɔː.dʌst/
US/ˈsɑː.dʌst/
Meaning
noununcountable
The fine powder and tiny wood fragments that fall as wood is cut with a saw.
Grammar: No plural: a pile of sawdust.
Patterns
- covered in sawdust
- a pile of sawdust
The workshop floor was covered in sawdust.
He swept up the sawdust after cutting the planks.
The smell of fresh sawdust reminded her of her father's shop.
Common combinations
- pile of sawdust
- A pile of sawdust sat beneath the table saw.
- sweep up sawdust
- Sweep up the sawdust before you leave.
- covered in sawdust
- His boots were covered in sawdust.
- fine sawdust
- Fine sawdust can irritate your lungs.
- sawdust floor
- The old pub had a sawdust floor.
Synonyms and how they differ
- wood shavings
- Wood shavings are longer curled strips from a plane, whereas sawdust is fine powder from a saw.
- wood chips
- Wood chips are larger chunks, used in gardens, and not fine like sawdust.
- wood dust
- Wood dust is a technical term that includes the finest particles from sanding.
Word family
Commonly confused: sawdust or wood shavings?
sawdust vs wood shavings
Shavings are curly strips, often from a plane. Sawdust is finer powder from sawing.
Practice
What produces sawdust?
Choose one answer.
Sawdust is made when a saw cuts wood. The other activities make different materials.
Make it your own
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