carve

verb

ˈkärv 

carved; carving

transitive verb

1

: to cut with care or precision

carved fretwork

2

: to make or get by or as if by cutting

—often used with out

carve out a career

3

: to cut into pieces or slices

carved the turkey

intransitive verb

1

: to cut up and serve meat

2

: to work as a sculptor or engraver

carver noun

Synonyms

• sculpt
• sculpture

Examples of carve in a Sentence

We carved an ice sculpture.

Who is going to carve the turkey?

He carved while I made the gravy.

Recent Examples on the Web

In the depths of a former mine in South Dakota, the journalist learns how microbes carve the Earth’s crust. —Joe Spring, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Dec. 2024

The five-acre property was carved out of a family ranch that’s lucky enough to have unobstructed views of all four Aspen mountains. —Troy J. McMullen, Architectural Digest, 9 Dec. 2024

Seldom has someone who looks carved out of oak so often seemed in dire need of a medical-grade hug. —Joe Berkowitz, Vulture, 8 Dec. 2024

This watch was carved from a meteorite that hit Earth a million years ago A luxury timepiece was sculpted from part of the Muonionalusta meteorite, the remains of which were first discovered in Sweden. —Alexandra Banner, CNN, 6 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English kerven, from Old English ceorfan; akin to Old High German kerban to notch, Greek graphein to scratch, write

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing carve

• carve up

Kids Definition

carve

verb

ˈkärv 

carved; carving

1

: to cut with care or exactness

2

: to cut into pieces or slices

3

: to cut up and serve meat

carver noun