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

But under the proposal, Marion County is carved into four new districts, sparking concerns about diluting the voting power of non-White residents. —Kayla Dwyer, IndyStar, 6 Dec. 2025

Debut album Blizzard is both jarring and hypnotic, the type of folk record that abides by decades-old traditions but still carves out a new, exciting niche. —Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 5 Dec. 2025

Maryland and Virginia Both states’ Democratic leaders are eager to carve out new Democratic-friendly seats. —David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 5 Dec. 2025

For Ayana Hardiway, a good friend and the mother of a 6-year-old and a 7-year-old, that means carving out time to have experiences with her children, even if other traditions seem bigger and better. —Whitney Roberts, Parents, 5 Dec. 2025

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