carve

[ kahrv ]

See synonyms for carve on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),carved, carv·ing.

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.

verb (used without object),carved, carv·ing.

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

Other words from carve

carver, noun
re·carve, verb, re·carved, re·carv·ing.
sem·i·carved, adjective
un·carved, adjective
un·der·carve, verb (used with object), un·der·carved, un·der·carv·ing.
well-carved, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use carve in a sentence

The capitals are mere uncarved bands, and over them certain molds die away in the pier.
How France Built Her Cathedrals | Elizabeth Boyle O'Reilly
Many of the capitals are uncarved, some of the piers have applied columns, but many are ornamented in straight cut lines.
Cathedrals and Cloisters of the South of France, Volume 1 | Elise Whitlock Rose
There is an absence of contrast; had portions of it been left uncarved how much more effective would have been the result!
Chats on Old Furniture | Arthur Hayden
The columns which support the galleries are plain, the arch resting on simple uncarved blocks.
Constantinople | William Holden Hutton
The image of the god Oro was a straight log of casuarina wood, six feet long, uncarved, but decorated with feathers.
The Belief in Immortality and the Worship of the Dead | James George Frazer

British Dictionary definitions for carve

carve

/ (kɑːv) /

verb

(tr) to cut or chip in order to form something: to carve wood
to decorate or form (something) by cutting or chipping: to carve statues

to slice (meat) into pieces: to carve a turkey

Origin of carve

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

See also carve out, carve up

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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