jigsawjig‧saw /ˈdʒɪɡsɔː $ -sɒː/ ●●○ noun [countable] 
(also ˈjigsaw ˌpuzzle) a picture cut up into many pieces that you try to fit together2[usually singular] a very complicated situation, especially one that you are trying to understand: 
As he explained, another piece of the jigsaw fell into place.3a tool for cutting out shapes in thin pieces of wood
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- For example, consider the pieces of a jigsaw in a box.
- Instead, the candidates have to put together a jigsaw puzzle of states, bagging their votes in the electoral college.
- The giant jigsaw is good value.
- They would then take it in turns to piece together each others jigsaw, guaranteed to keep them happy for years.
WORD SETS
board, nouncatch, nouncat's cradle, nouncold, adjectiveconsolation prize, noundice, noundie, noundraw, verbfollow-my-leader, nounfriendly, noungame, noungyroscope, nounhome, nounhoopla, nounhopscotch, nounjigsaw, nounjump rope, nounmahjong, nounplayground, nounpoint, nounretire, verbroll, verbroll, nounRussian roulette, nounscoreboard, nounscorecard, nounshaker, nountag, nountiddlywinks, nountreasure hunt, nountrick, nountrivia, nounwarm, adjective
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY As he explained, another piece of the jigsaw fell into place.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSNOUN
1 As he explained, another piece of the jigsaw fell into place.· But being forgettable was part of her job; a jigsaw piece that fitted invisibly into any puzzle.· The different sectors are like jigsaw pieces and can be moved around to fit the particular city being dealt with.· This was just another jigsaw piece in the bizarre events of the night.
· Instead, the candidates have to put together a jigsaw puzzle of states, bagging their votes in the electoral college.· It is like putting together a three-dimensional jigsaw puzzle with missing pieces.· She was wound up, jumbled inside like a spilled jigsaw puzzle.· And the majority of changes relate to content, more time-consuming and frustrating than an all-red jigsaw puzzle.· Dress children up in paper which has wavy lines drawn on it to seem like a jigsaw puzzle.· She thought the contents of a Cornflakes box were a jigsaw puzzle of a hen.· The pieces of evidence fell into place with the unequivocal precision of a well-made jigsaw puzzle.· We have a jigsaw puzzle with the pieces jumbled up.
(also ˈjigsaw ˌpuzzle) a picture cut up into many pieces that you try to fit together2[usually singular] a very complicated situation, especially one that you are trying to understand: As he explained, another piece of the jigsaw fell into place.3a tool for cutting out shapes in thin pieces of wood