serrate

1 of 2

adjective

: notched or toothed on the edge
specifically : having marginal teeth pointing forward or toward the apex
a serrate leaf

serrate

2 of 2

verb

serrated; serrating

transitive verb

: to mark or make with serrations
a serrated knife

Examples of serrate in a Sentence

Adjective a serrate saw
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Roll this sheet into a log, then cut it with a sharp or serrated knife into about 15 slices. Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2024 Its cylindrical body, usually made of wood or metal, is covered with a ridge-like or serrated surface, which allows a musician to scrape its sides to create a sound comparable to that of a snare drum. Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2024 The appearance of a polyp may be described as sessile (flat or slightly elevated), pedunculated (having a mushroom shape with a stalk), or serrated (having a sawtooth appearance). James Myhre & Dennis Sifris, Md, Verywell Health, 3 Sep. 2024 Tyrannosaurus tooth marks are as unique as fingerprints – each of those chompers measured up to 30 cm (12 in) long and was serrated like a steak knife. New Atlas, 19 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for serrate 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin serratus, from serra saw

Verb

Late Latin serratus, past participle of serrare to saw, from Latin serra

First Known Use

Adjective

1668, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1750, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of serrate was in 1668

Dictionary Entries Near serrate

Cite this Entry

“Serrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/serrate. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

serrate

adjective
ser·​rate
ˈse(ə)r-ˌāt,
sə-ˈrāt
: having a saw-toothed edge
a serrate leaf
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!