carve

verb

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

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 When the moment of gratitude arrives, and no one utters a word about their dear patriarch, the knives come out — and not just to carve turkey. Shay Spence, Peoplemag, 22 Nov. 2023 Much like how Billy Strings took the bluegrass influence of guitarists Tony Rice and Bryan Sutton to carve out a career in rock and jam, Donato is harnessing the country stylings of Chet Atkins and Jerry Reed. Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 22 Nov. 2023 At the time, Mohandas K. Gandhi and India’s first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, were distraught over the decision to carve Pakistan out of British India as a separate Muslim country. Karishma Mehrotra, Washington Post, 18 Nov. 2023 Massive chunks of concrete were strewn across hundreds of acres around the launch pad, denting tanks and carving craters in the surrounding mud flats. Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 18 Nov. 2023 Be sure to carve out some time to stroll around the formal gardens, which feature lakes and sculptures. Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 16 Nov. 2023 The Aztecs have carved out a reputation as a team that grinds you down on defense and isn’t overly explosive on offense. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Nov. 2023 In total, the digital space she’s carved out beyond the confines of Hearst feels authentic. Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 15 Nov. 2023 As Americans gather this Thanksgiving, tens of millions will sink into their couches for one of the country’s enduring rituals: watching football games showcasing the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys while turkeys are being dressed, carved and gobbled. Emmanuel Morgan, New York Times, 14 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'carve.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of carve was before the 12th century

Cite this Entry

“Carve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carve. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

carve

verb
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

More from Merriam-Webster on carve

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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