Word
carve
Meanings
To cut or shape wood, stone, or another material to make a design or object.
To cut cooked meat or another food into slices for serving.
To create a route, channel, or opening by cutting through a surface over time or with effort.
Definition
To carve is to cut a shape, pattern, or piece from a hard material using a tool.
To carve means to cut or shape something carefully, usually wood, stone, or meat, using a knife or another sharp tool. People often carve to create a design or sculpture, or to cut food into neat slices. The verb suggests controlled, skillful cutting rather than quick chopping.
Examples
- I learned to carve simple patterns in wood after work to improve my hand skills.
- You can carve the roast more cleanly if you let it rest for a few minutes first.
- He watched the river carve a narrow gorge through the cliffs over thousands of years.
- She began to carve a small animal from soap as a quick, creative warm-up.
- They hired an artist to carve decorative details into the stone doorway.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse "carve" with "curve"; "carve" means to cut or shape with a tool, while "curve" describes a bent shape.
More at C1 level
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- pretentious Trying to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you really are.
More verbs
- analyze To examine something carefully in order to understand it or explain it.
- scrutinize To scrutinize something is to examine it very carefully and in detail.
- affect To affect something is to influence it or cause it to change.
- allude To allude means to mention or suggest something indirectly without saying it clearly.
- elude To elude someone or something is to avoid being caught, understood, or remembered.