English Reference

Word

jigsaw

Phoneticsjig·saw

US/ˈdʒɪɡˌsɔ/

UK/dʒˈɪɡsɔː/

Definition

n. a puzzle made of many small, oddly shaped pieces that you fit together to make a picture.

n. a puzzle consisting of numerous interlocking pieces which, when assembled, form a complete image.

Examples

“We spent the whole rainy afternoon finishing a large jigsaw.”

“The children spread the pieces of the jigsaw across the floor to find all the edge parts first.”

“Solving the mystery felt like completing a complex jigsaw where the final piece reveals a picture entirely different from what was initially expected.”

Examples

simple

“We spent the whole rainy afternoon finishing a large jigsaw.”

contextual

“The children spread the pieces of the jigsaw across the floor to find all the edge parts first.”

complex

“Solving the mystery felt like completing a complex jigsaw where the final piece reveals a picture entirely different from what was initially expected.”

Usage

Often used as a modifier in the compound 'jigsaw puzzle'.

Etymology

From jig + saw.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
A2 · Elementary
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/jigsaw

English Reference