Carve
/kɑːrv/
verbB1
Definition
To carve means to cut parts out of a solid material to create a shape, design, or object. People often carve wood, stone, or even food like meat or pumpkins. It can also mean to carefully make something by cutting or shaping it.
Was this helpful?
⚡ See It in Action
To cut shapes or designs into hard materials
- •She carved a beautiful bird into the wooden table.
- •The artist carves statues from marble.
- •We carved pumpkins for Halloween.
To cut meat or food into pieces
- •He carved the turkey at the dinner table.
- •Please carve the roast into thin slices.
To create or form something carefully by cutting or shaping
- •The mountain paths were carved by ancient rivers.
- •The sculptor carved a face out of ice.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "carve" like "cut" (A1 word), but more careful and artistic, making shapes or designs
- ✓Picture someone using a small knife to make patterns on a piece of wood or a pumpkin
- ✓It's the feeling when you slowly and carefully create something beautiful by removing small pieces
- ✓Sounds like "carve" → imagine a car moving slowly, carefully shaping a road as it goes
- ✓Think of the story of a woodworker carving a small statue from a block of wood, making it come alive step by step
- ✓NOT like "cut" (quick and simple), "carve" is slow, careful, and with a clear shape in mind
- ✓NOT like "break" (destroying by force), carving is about making and shaping, not destroying
- ✓NOT like "paint" (adding color), carving removes material to create form
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Engrave: to cut letters or designs into a hard surface (Use when making letters or small designs, often on metal or stone)
- •Sculpt: to create a shape by cutting or forming material (Use when making artistic shapes, especially with stone or clay)
- •Slice: to cut food into thin pieces (Use when cutting food, especially thin pieces)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Word parts: No prefix or suffix; root word "carve"
- •Etymology: From Old English "ceorfan," meaning to cut or carve
- •Historical development: Used since early English to mean cutting shapes or dividing
- •Modern usage: Commonly used for artistic cutting or preparing food by cutting carefully
- •Key insight: Always about cutting with care to make shapes or pieces, not just breaking or simple cutting
💭 Reflect & Connect
•How does carving something slowly and carefully change the way you feel about the object compared to just cutting it quickly?
•Can you think of examples where carving is more than just cutting—where it becomes an art or a special skill?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.When you carve wood, you need to ___ your cuts carefully to make a nice shape.
2.People often carve pumpkins during ___ to create faces or designs.
3.Unlike simple cutting, carving usually takes ___ and attention to detail.
4.The chef carved the turkey into ___ slices for the guests.
5.To carve a statue, an artist removes ___ pieces of material step by step.
6.Carve is different from cut because it focuses on making a ___ or design.
7.When paths are carved by rivers, it means the water slowly ___ the land over time.