carve
[kahrv]
- to cut (a solid material) so as to form something: to carve a piece of pine.
- to form from a solid material by cutting: to carve a statue out of stone.
- to cut into slices or pieces, as a roast of meat.
- to decorate with designs or figures cut on the surface: The top of the box was beautifully carved with figures of lions and unicorns.
- to cut (a design, figures, etc.) on a surface: Figures of lions and unicorns were carved on the top of the box.
- to make or create for oneself (often followed by out): He carved out a career in business.
- to carve figures, designs, etc.
- to cut meat.
Origin of carve
before 1000; Middle English kerven, Old English ceorfan to cut; cognate with Middle Low German kerven, German kerben, Greek gráphein to mark, write; see graph
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for carve
Contemporary Examples
Al Qaeda has never managed to carve out a large chunk of real estate to call its own—in Afghanistan it was a guest of the Taliban.
Her new paradigm leads her to carve up shibboleths and heroes alike.
I sort of got lucky in that I was able to carve a niche for myself.
Juliette Lewis on Hollywood, Why the MSM Hates Scientology, and Masturbating to George ClooneyMarlow Stern
September 19, 2014
In Brazil, there was a microcosmic slice of the kind of public role he is attempting to carve.
Could it just be that prison itself conditions a sort of pavlovian reaction to carve chess pieces?
Historical Examples
As for me, I ask no help from any one: I go into the world and will carve out my own way.
Night and Morning, CompleteEdward Bulwer-Lytton
A sculptor was set to work to carve a new one from the ruin.
Buried Cities: Pompeii, Olympia, MycenaeJennie Hall
But, mon brave,” said he, “you would find this one a tough swine to carve!
Louisiana LouWilliam West Winter
Ambitious, light-hearted, he went to Africa to carve out a name in the army.
The StrollersFrederic S. Isham
Alden sat down at the table and began to carve a roasted chicken.
Victor's TriumphMrs. E. D. E. N. Southworth
carve
- (tr) to cut or chip in order to form somethingto carve wood
- to decorate or form (something) by cutting or chippingto carve statues
- to slice (meat) into piecesto carve a turkey
Word Origin
Old English ceorfan; related to Old Frisian kerva, Middle High German kerben to notch
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for carve
v.
Old English ceorfan (class III strong verb; past tense cearf, past participle corfen) "to cut, cut down, slay; to carve, cut out, engrave," from West Germanic *kerfan (cf. Old Frisian kerva, Middle Dutch and Dutch kerven, German kerben "to cut, notch"), from PIE root *gerbh- "to scratch," making carve the English cognate of Greek graphein "to write," originally "to scratch" on clay tablets with a stylus.
Once extensively used, most senses now usurped by cut (v.). Meaning specialized to sculpture, meat, etc., by 16c. Related: Carved; carving. Original strong conjugation has been abandoned, but archaic carven lingers.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper