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

• 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

Antelope Canyon starts or ends at Lake Powell and goes on for 18 miles, with curved red rock formations carved deep into the earth, though of course, visitors only explore a small part of it. —Rona Berg, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2025

Fans left flowers, photos and messages carved into a tree outside the home, according to former owner Douglas Ousterhout. —Nate Jones, People.com, 11 Aug. 2025

This weekend brought yet another illustration: Democratic lawmakers in Texas fled the state to prevent a vote on a Republican redistricting plan that would carve five new districts in ways that dilute minority and urban representation, effectively guaranteeing GOP congressional gains in 2026. —Dan Perry, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Aug. 2025

In an era of rapid consumption and short attention spans, his consistency, fan engagement, and sheer volume of output have carved him a unique—and now historic—lane in Hip-Hop. —Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 7 Aug. 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