# jigsaw

/ˈdʒɪɡˌsɔ/ (US) · /dʒˈɪɡsɔː/ (UK) · CEFR A2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/jigsaw
Updated: 2026-05-08

## Definition

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

For teachers: 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.

## Usage notes

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

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.