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 of carve

• sculpt

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

The researchers placed the receiver beneath the wing of a stationary drone and carved air channels through the wing to improve cooling even more. — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 9 Aug. 2026

Rather than filling every square foot with washing machines, the pair intentionally carved out space for communal seating, work tables and customers who might linger long after their laundry was done. — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 9 Aug. 2026

The bedroom is on floor one, the first door on the right (that door, by the way, has three peepholes carved seemingly at random), and is bedecked in reddish wood. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026

Hensley was introduced to the fiddle early in life when her father taught her how to carve and play the instrument, according to local news outlet KY3. — Desiree Anello, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026

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

Rhymes for carve

• starve

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