chainsaw

noun

chain·​saw ˈchān-ˌsȯ 

variants or less commonly chain saw

plural chainsaws also chain saws

: a portable power tool used for cutting that has sharp teeth linked together to form a continuous chain

chainsaw transitive verb

chainsawed; chainsawed also chainsawn ˈchān-ˌsȯn  ; chainsawing; chainsaws

Examples of chainsaw in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Berkeley resident Matt Nichols came to the protest dressed up as a killer robot holding a chainsaw. — Queenie Wong, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026

About 28 volunteers, including chainsaw and heavy equipment operators, are targeting trees considered dangerous at Scouting America's Camp Tahquitz. — Joy Benedict, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026

The contender from South America, along with its cousin, the white bellbird, has a call that can hit the earsplitting decibels of a chainsaw or jackhammer. — Meghan Bartels, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2026

Over the course of an hour and a half, team members made their way to the victims and used machetes and chainsaws to clear the overgrown trails. — Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 30 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1946, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for chainsaw

• aa
• aha
• bashaw
• bradshaw
• byelaw
• bylaw
• cheraw
• coleslaw
• crenshaw
• dada
• esau
• foresaw

Kids Definition

chain saw

noun

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