serrate
1 of 2adjective
ser·rate ˈser-ˌāt 
sə-ˈrāt
: notched or toothed on the edge
specifically : having marginal teeth pointing forward or toward the apex
a serrate leaf
serrate
2 of 2verb
ser·rate sə-ˈrāt
ˈser-ˌāt
serrated; serrating
transitive verb
: to mark or make with serrations
a serrated knife
Synonyms
Adjective
- saw-toothed
- serrated
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web
Kovie Biakolo, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 July 2022 But above them, disembodied in the haze, hovered the Garhwal Himalayas, part of the central Himalayan mountains, which serrate the borderlands of northern India before crashing into Nepal’s yet higher massifs immediately to the east. Washington Post, 13 Aug. 2020 Beginning in 2015, the hip-hop emerging from SoundCloud — which imported punchiness from pop-punk and emo, and incorporated both rapping and singing — was emotionally serrated, but also sneakily melodic. Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 9 Dec. 2019 Saw-back spines are a common feature, as are serrated sections on the blades. Tim Macwelch, Outdoor Life, 27 Jan. 2020 Goranson, in particular, is the MVP of the episode, delivering zinger after zinger with her signature serrated verve and impeccable timing. Robyn Bahr, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Feb. 2020 The best electric knife sharpeners are able to sharpen both straight and serrated blades, and have several sharpening stages. The Editors, Field & Stream, 18 Nov. 2019 Multi-stage sharpeners are perfect for that high-dollar knife set, including both straight and serrated edges. The Editors, Outdoor Life, 23 Sep. 2019 The set includes a 6-inch chef knife, 5-inch serrated utility knife, a 3.5-inch paring knife and 3-inch Santoku knife. Doreen Christensen, sun-sentinel.com, 12 Dec. 2019 See More
Verb
To make a sharp tool such as the Kanjera stone, a hominin would use a hammer stone to serrate the new tool, creating sharp edges capable of cutting different materials, from animal flesh to vegetation to wood. Kovie Biakolo, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 July 2022 But above them, disembodied in the haze, hovered the Garhwal Himalayas, part of the central Himalayan mountains, which serrate the borderlands of northern India before crashing into Nepal’s yet higher massifs immediately to the east. Washington Post, 13 Aug. 2020 Beginning in 2015, the hip-hop emerging from SoundCloud — which imported punchiness from pop-punk and emo, and incorporated both rapping and singing — was emotionally serrated, but also sneakily melodic. Jon Caramanica, New York Times, 9 Dec. 2019 Saw-back spines are a common feature, as are serrated sections on the blades. Tim Macwelch, Outdoor Life, 27 Jan. 2020 Goranson, in particular, is the MVP of the episode, delivering zinger after zinger with her signature serrated verve and impeccable timing. Robyn Bahr, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Feb. 2020 The best electric knife sharpeners are able to sharpen both straight and serrated blades, and have several sharpening stages. The Editors, Field & Stream, 18 Nov. 2019 Multi-stage sharpeners are perfect for that high-dollar knife set, including both straight and serrated edges. The Editors, Outdoor Life, 23 Sep. 2019 The set includes a 6-inch chef knife, 5-inch serrated utility knife, a 3.5-inch paring knife and 3-inch Santoku knife. Doreen Christensen, sun-sentinel.com, 12 Dec. 2019 See More 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
serrated
adjective
as in serrate
notched or toothed along the edge you should use a serrated knife when cutting bread, so you don't squash the loaf Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- serrate
- jagged
- saw-toothed
- wavy
- serried
- ragged
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- flat
- smooth