sculpture

¹sculp·ture

noun \ˈskəlp-chər\

Definition of SCULPTURE

1

a : the action or art of processing (as by carving, modeling, or welding) plastic or hard materials into works of art b (1) : work produced by sculpture (2) : a three-dimensional work of art (as a statue)

2

: impressed or raised markings or a pattern of such especially on a plant or animal part

Examples of SCULPTURE

1. a sculpture of an elephant
2. an exhibit of African sculpture

Origin of SCULPTURE

Middle English, from Latin sculptura, from sculptus, past participle of sculpere to carve, alteration of scalpere to scratch, carve

First Known Use: 14th century

Other Fine Arts Terms

Gothic, baroque, bas-relief, limn, oeuvre, pastiche, rococo, sfumato