as in chip
a V-shaped cut usually on an edge or a surface with a handsaw I made a kerf in the board to mark where I needed to cut

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of kerf Make the first pass on all four posts, adjust the saw’s fence, and then make additional passes until the kerfs are formed. Paul Steiner, Popular Mechanics, 24 Mar. 2023 Next, cut kerfs for the splines in the corner posts and side pieces. Paul Steiner, Popular Mechanics, 24 Mar. 2023 Mark the kerf on the end grain of a post. Paul Steiner, Popular Mechanics, 24 Mar. 2023 This reduces bowing and creates a thinner kerf, making pull saws ideal for joints and other fine woodwork. Pierre Tardif, WSJ, 3 June 2021 Begin by ripping and crosscutting the shelves, the sides, the bottom and the top panel from red-oak plywood with a 40-tooth thin-kerf blade in a circular saw. Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, 26 Sep. 2020 The thin-kerf chain (its teeth are 3/32-inch wide) zips through each cut with smoothness and precision. Roy Berendson, Popular Mechanics, 18 Mar. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for kerf
Noun
  • The purple hue is the result of the delamination of the phosphor-silicon layer in the streetlights' LED chips.
    Elizabeth Weise, USA Today, 29 Mar. 2025
  • Intel shares are down nearly 49% over the past year, driven by concerns about the company’s spending on new chip factories and its minuscule market share in chips for artificial intelligence.
    Kif Leswing, CNBC, 28 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Lighter scratches only touch the surface while moderate to deep scratches can usually be felt by sticking your fingernail in the slit to determine how deep the scratch really is.
    Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2025
  • Remember when Angelina Jolie went viral for her leg-bearing slit at the 2012 Oscars?
    Christian Allaire, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Signs that a cutting board needs to be replaced include deep grooves that are hard to clean, cracks, or warping.
    Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Mar. 2025
  • Ever since Alcaraz lost that immense Olympic final to Djokovic in August, the Spaniard has generally struggled to find his groove.
    Tim Ellis, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • The Honda sustained damage to its front passenger side, and the Outback had an indent to its front driver-side bumper.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Just a few years ago, ADL found that 30 antisemitic indents nationwide were tied to Kanye’s 2022 antisemitic rants.
    Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 10 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Kerf.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/kerf. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.

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