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Glite Dictionary
portable saw

portable saw

3.4
A small tool with a round blade that you carry to cut wood or other materials
  • noun
  • /ˈpɔːrtəbl sɔː/
translation icon : sierra portátil
  • He used a portable saw to cut through the wooden planks at the construction site.

Examples

  • He bought a portable saw for his home projects.

  • Make sure the portable saw is unplugged before changing the blade.

  • A portable saw is handy for jobs that require moving between different locations.

  • The portable saw is lightweight and easy to use.

  • Carpenters often use a portable saw to make precise cuts on job sites.

  • The portable saw can easily fit in my toolbox, making it convenient for small projects.

  • With a portable saw, you can quickly cut wood without needing a large workspace.

Synonyms

circular saw
vsportable saw
5 3.5

A power tool with a round blade that cuts wood or metal

is carried and used by hand rather than only being motor-mounted
power saw
vsportable saw
3 3.2

A machine with a blade that has teeth and cuts wood or other materials

is smaller and designed to be carried and used by hand rather than machine-mounted
portable circular saw
vsportable saw
4.5

A small machine with a round blade that you hold to cut wood or metal

is the same but emphasizes the circular blade and handheld design

Antonyms

fixed
1.0

Attached firmly to something so it cannot move

How Portable

hand saw
1 2.1
portable saw
3.4
table saw
  • Specialized
5 4.2

Surface Forms

portable saw singular
portable saws plural

Morphology

portable + saw

The noun phrase is directly built from an adjective + noun combination: 'portable' (easily carried) + 'saw' (cutting tool), so the meaning of a saw designed to be easily carried or hand-operated is compositional and immediately derivable. This follows a common adjective+noun pattern found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand the MWE.

Etymology

Portable saw comes from the simple picture of a saw that is portable, meaning 'easy to carry'. Workers could pick it up and move it from place to place, so the name tells you it is a saw you can carry and use by hand.