jigsaw

1 of 3

noun

jig·​saw ˈjig-ˌsȯ How to pronounce jigsaw (audio)
1
2
: a light portable electric saw with a vertically reciprocating blade that is used especially for cutting curves
3

jigsaw

2 of 3

verb

jigsawed; jigsawing; jigsaws

transitive verb

1
: to cut or form by or as if by a jigsaw
2
: to arrange or place in an intricate or interlocking way

jigsaw

3 of 3

adjective

: suggesting a jigsaw puzzle or its separate pieces

Examples of jigsaw in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
But people of any age can enjoy the challenge of working on jigsaws. Cathy Free, Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2024 Crawley almost had too many shots to understand which of them fitted the jigsaw. Tim Ellis, Forbes, 11 Feb. 2024 So before assembly, a jigsaw cut into 20 pieces will take up the same space as the same jigsaw cut into 1000 pieces. The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 15 Dec. 2023 Iceland is a complex jigsaw of volcanoes, and each section of the island has a different style of volcanism. Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 19 Dec. 2023 Find it on Amazon The 1000-Piece Puzzle Of An Art Classic A jigsaw is such a perfect rainy day activity and this 1000-piece design is sure to provide an entertaining challenge for hours. Kat Romero, Rolling Stone, 14 Nov. 2023 What should have been an enchanting horror fantasy gives way to a baffling jigsaw, teetering on the absurd. Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 7 Sep. 2023 Cut decorative rafters and rafter tails using a pattern and jigsaw. Katie Leporte, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2021 The jigsaw has a thin, rectangular blade that moves up and down. Sean McDonnell, cleveland, 28 Feb. 2023
Verb
The transition from a team with three NBA talents to a squad jigsawed around Pritchard has had its ups and downs. Tyson Alger, OregonLive.com, 4 Jan. 2018 Taking care not to violate Supreme Court guidelines on minority representation, lawmakers jigsawed Texas into shapes that would decisively capture the state for the right. Michelle Legro, Longreads, 13 July 2017
Adjective
Over billions of years this process has created a moon covered in what looks like jigsaw pieces. Shannon Stirone, Wired, 9 May 2020 My mother parceled out the sins of my father, like jigsaw pieces, spread out over too many years. Robin Antalek, Longreads, 22 Apr. 2020 Cutting at up to 3,300 strokes per minute, this jigsaw works through wood up to 4.25 inches thick and metal up to 3/8 inches thick. Popular Science, 17 Apr. 2020 The lawn is that bright-green ryegrass with brown jigsaw pieces where somebody sprayed ant poison. Lee Durkee, Harper's Magazine, 30 Mar. 2020 To properly satisfy, a twister's jigsaw pieces must be assembled with some care and precision. Isaac Feldberg, Fortune, 15 Nov. 2019 Along with jigsaw ice fields and scouring winds, Aston grappled with two months of solitude and self-doubt on her ground-breaking ski trip across Antarctica. Jen Rose Smith, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Oct. 2019 The whole story of the issue is overseen by Immortal Hulk writer Al Ewing and editor Tom Brevoort, who can be trusted to turn such a jigsaw issue into a fascinating mystery. Christian Holub, EW.com, 2 Aug. 2019 Neanderthal jigsaw Past research had suggested that Neanderthals seemed to be genetically well mixed, interbreeding across Europe and into Asia. Maya Wei-Haas, National Geographic, 26 June 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'jigsaw.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1873, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1873, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1909, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of jigsaw was in 1873

Dictionary Entries Near jigsaw

Cite this Entry

“Jigsaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jigsaw. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

jigsaw

noun
jig·​saw
ˈjig-ˌsȯ
: an electric saw with a narrow blade for cutting curved and irregular lines

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