Standard Lemma guide

jigsaw

noun · verb · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈd͡ʒɪɡ.sɔː/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • General-American: /ˈd͡ʒɪɡ.sɔ/
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • cot-caught-merger: /ˈd͡ʒɪɡ.sɑ/
  • US: cot-caught Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: JH IH1 G S AO2 Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A power saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade which can cut curves in wood or metal.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A jigsaw puzzle.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

Something that can be compared to a jigsaw puzzle.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To cut something using a jigsaw.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

noun

Meaning 5

fine-toothed power saw with a narrow blade; used to cut curved outlines

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: scroll saw, fretsaw

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: power saw, saw, sawing machine

6

noun

Meaning 6

a portable power saw with a reciprocating blade; can be used with a variety of blades depending on the application and kind of cut; generally have a plate that rides on the surface that is being cut

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: saber saw, reciprocating saw

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: power saw, saw, sawing machine

History

Etymology

From jig + saw.

Across languages

Translations

30 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 豎鋸 /竖锯 (shùjù) — A saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade
  • Chinese Mandarin: 線鋸 /线锯 (xiànjù) — A saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade
  • Danish: stiksav — A saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade
  • Dutch: decoupeerzaag — A saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade
  • Esperanto: ĵigo — A saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade
  • Finnish: lehtisaha — A saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade
  • Finnish: kuviosaha — A saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade
  • French: scie sauteuse — A saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade
  • Georgian: ხერხი (xerxi) — A saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade
  • German: Stichsäge — A saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade
  • Greek: σέγα (séga) — A saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade
  • Hebrew: גֶ׳קְסוֹן (jékson) — A saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade
  • Hungarian: szúrófűrész — A saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade
  • Hungarian: dekopírfűrész — A saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade
  • Italian: seghetto alternativo — A saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade
  • Japanese: ジグソー (jigusō) — A saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade
  • Māori: kani piko — A saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade
  • Norwegian Bokmål: stikksag — A saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade
  • Polish: laubzega — A saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade
  • Polish: wyrzynarka — A saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade
  • Portuguese: serra tico-tico — A saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade
  • Portuguese: serra de recortes — A saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade
  • Portuguese: serra de vaivém — A saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade
  • Romanian: fierăstrău pendular — A saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade
  • Russian: ло́бзик (lóbzik) — A saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade
  • Russian: ажу́рная пила́ (ažúrnaja pilá) — A saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade
  • Spanish: sierra de vaivén — A saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade
  • Spanish: sierra caladora — A saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade
  • Spanish: caladora — A saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade
  • Swedish: sticksåg — A saw with fine teeth and a narrow blade