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chainsaw

/ˌtʃeɪnˈsɔ/
/ˈtʃeɪnsɔ/
IPA guide

Other forms: chainsaws

A chainsaw is a power tool that can quickly cut through tree trunks and branches. If a tree falls during a storm, blocking your driveway, you can cut it into pieces with a chainsaw.

While a hand saw works by being manually pulled back and forth, cutting wood with its sharp metal teeth, a chainsaw's cutting power comes from a metal chain that rotates around the blade. Most chainsaws have a small gasoline-powered motor and are very portable. The original chainsaw was an early 1800s surgical tool used to cut bone; by the 1830s, the word also included saws for cutting wood.

Definitions of chainsaw
  1. noun
    portable power saw; teeth linked to form an endless chain
    synonyms: chain saw
    see moresee less
    type of:
    power saw, saw, sawing machine
    a power tool for cutting wood
Pronunciation
US
/ˌtʃeɪnˈsɔ/
UK
/ˈtʃeɪnsɔ/
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