sculpture

American  

[skuhlp-cher] / ˈskʌlp tʃər /

noun

1. the art of carving, modeling, welding, or otherwise producing figurative or abstract works of art in three dimensions, as in relief, intaglio, or in the round.

2. such works of art collectively.

3. an individual piece of such work.

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verb (used with object)

sculptured, sculpturing

1. to carve, model, weld, or otherwise produce (a piece of sculpture).

2. to produce a portrait or image of in this way; represent in sculpture.

3. Physical Geography. to change the form of (the land surface) by erosion.

verb (used without object)

sculptured, sculpturing

1. to work as a sculptor.

sculpture British  

/ ˈskʌlptʃə /

noun

1. the art of making figures or designs in relief or the round by carving wood, moulding plaster, etc, or casting metals, etc

2. works or a work made in this way

3. ridges or indentations as on a shell, formed by natural processes

4. the gradual formation of the landscape by erosion

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verb

1. (also intr) to carve, cast, or fashion (stone, bronze, etc) three dimensionally

2. to portray (a person, etc) by means of sculpture

3. to form in the manner of sculpture, esp to shape (landscape) by erosion

4. to decorate with sculpture

Other Word Forms

• nonsculptural adjective
• nonsculpturally adverb
• resculpture verb (used with object)
• sculptural adjective
• sculpturally adverb
• unsculptural adjective

Etymology

Origin of sculpture

1350–1400; Middle English (noun) < Latin sculptūra, equivalent to sculpt ( us ) (past participle of sculpere to carve) + -ūra -ure

Example Sentences

Pairing paintings, tapestries and sculptures with songs and sound clips, these museums have become unlikely social-media stars.

From The Wall Street Journal

After that, we visited the newly installed Ricardo Breceda rattlesnake and roadrunner metal sculptures.

From Los Angeles Times

In her studio, multiple towering sculptures are ensconced in cardboard and bubble wrap, while others — works in progress — sit on plinths, lean against walls, or hang from the ceiling.

From Los Angeles Times

The ceremony happened in front of thousands of fans, all packed into Market Place as the life-sized, bronze-cast sculpture was uncovered.

From BBC

“I think a man spends his whole life-time painting one picture or working on one piece of sculpture,” he reflected.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• sculpt