Sawdust: meaning, definitions and examples

Fine wood particles created as a byproduct of cutting, grinding, drilling, or sanding wood.

• We collected sawdust to use as bedding for the animals
• The carpenter's floor was covered in sawdust after a long day of work

Thin slices or curly fragments of wood created when planing or shaping wood, commonly used for animal bedding or packing material.

• Wood shavings are often used as bedding for small pets like hamsters
• The woodworker swept up the wood shavings after smoothing the wooden surface

Small, uniform pieces of wood produced by chipping larger wood fragments, often used for fuel, playground surfaces, or mulch.

• The playground was covered in wood chips to make it safer for the children
• We used wood chips in our garden as mulch to retain moisture in the soil

Very fine particles of wood created during sanding or cutting, often considered a health hazard due to inhalation risks.

• The workers wore masks to avoid inhaling dangerous wood dust
• Wood dust collected on every surface in the workshop

Commonly used to describe the fine particles produced from cutting or sanding wood. Often encountered in woodworking, carpentry, and household DIY projects.

• The floor was covered in sawdust after they finished sawing the planks.
• He used sawdust to clean up the oil spill.

Refers specifically to very fine particles of wood, often resulting from sanding or similar fine work. Emphasizes the fineness of the material.

• He wore a mask to avoid inhaling the wood powder while sanding.
• The shelf was covered in a layer of wood powder.

Refers to larger, scattered pieces of wood left over from carpentry, construction, or logging operations. Not restricted to fine particles and can include larger fragments.

• After the storm, the yard was full of wood debris.
• The construction site had piles of wood debris.

Describes broken pieces of wood which can vary in size but are typically larger than sawdust. Often used in more general contexts outside of precise woodworking.

• She picked up the wood fragments after the furniture broke.
• The explosion left wood fragments scattered across the area.