carve

[ kahrv ]

verb (used with object)

, carved, carv·ing.

1. to cut (a solid material) so as to form something:

   to carve a piece of pine.

2. to form from a solid material by cutting:

   to carve a statue out of stone.

3. to cut into slices or pieces, as a roast of meat.
4. to decorate with designs or figures cut on the surface:

   The top of the box was beautifully carved with figures of lions and unicorns.

5. to cut (a design, figures, etc.) on a surface:

   Figures of lions and unicorns were carved on the top of the box.

6. to make or create for oneself (often followed by out ):

   He carved out a career in business.

verb (used without object)

, carved, carv·ing.

1. to carve figures, designs, etc.
2. to cut meat.

carve

/ kɑːv /

verb

1. tr to cut or chip in order to form something

   to carve wood

2. to decorate or form (something) by cutting or chipping

   to carve statues

3. to slice (meat) into pieces

   to carve a turkey

Other Words From

• carver noun
• re·carve verb recarved recarving
• semi·carved adjective
• un·carved adjective
• under·carve verb (used with object) undercarved undercarving
• well-carved adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of carve¹

before 1000; Middle English kerven, Old English ceorfan to cut; cognate with Middle Low German kerven, German kerben, Greek gráphein to mark, write; graph

Word History and Origins

Origin of carve¹

Old English ceorfan; related to Old Frisian kerva, Middle High German kerben to notch

Example Sentences

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.

From The Daily Beast

Her new paradigm leads her to carve up shibboleths and heroes alike.

From The Daily Beast

I sort of got lucky in that I was able to carve a niche for myself.

From The Daily Beast

In Brazil, there was a microcosmic slice of the kind of public role he is attempting to carve.

From The Daily Beast

Could it just be that prison itself conditions a sort of pavlovian reaction to carve chess pieces?

From The Daily Beast

You could carve him to pieces without hearing a cheep, if he decided to keep his mouth shut.

From Project Gutenberg

A pair of carvers, laid with my cover, tell me that I shall have to carve the ham which is here eaten with the chicken.

From Project Gutenberg

Houdon then returned to France and proceeded to carve a Carrara marble statue of his subject.

From Project Gutenberg

The painter cannot put sounds upon a canvas, nor can the sculptor carve from marble an odor or a taste.

From Project Gutenberg

He was yet young, vigorous and ambitious, and with the help of heaven he would carve out his own fortune.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• chisel
• divide
• engrave
• etch
• fashion
• hack
• mold
• sculpt
• shape
• slice