chain saw

noun

: a portable power saw that has teeth linked together to form an endless chain
chainsaw transitive verb

Examples of chain saw in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But in Term Two, the administration has taken a chain saw to universities, federal jobs and federal funding for scientific research, which has prompted talk of a brain drain, with scientists looking for work in other countries. Steve Lopez, Mercury News, 7 May 2025 The prosecutor told the court that a wedge cut out from the tree had later been photographed next to a chain saw in the trunk of Mr. Graham’s Range Rover. Amelia Nierenberg, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025 The restaurant chain saw customer foot traffic decline in recent years and had to close many locations across the country. Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025 Thanks to his efforts to take a chain saw to the federal government through DOGE, Elon Musk has attracted a level of ire from left-wing activists that now rivals their level of hatred for President Trump. The Editors, National Review, 24 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for chain saw

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chain saw was in 1920

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Chain saw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chain%20saw. Accessed 21 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

chain saw

noun
: a portable power saw that has teeth linked together to form a continuous chain

More from Merriam-Webster on chain saw

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!