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

But for other press outlets — ones that, like Stuckmann, carved out an identity in the digital space and that regularly cover horror — more actively praised the effort. —Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025

The seven pillars of society—wisdom, love, respect, bravery, honesty, humility, and truth—aren’t just words carved into sacred walls. —Maria Williams, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025

Evans was carving out a career as a playwright before the path to screenwriting opened. —Angelique Jackson, Variety, 24 Oct. 2025

In remembrance, Collins carved a sliver of the Jackson pediment into tiny rose petals and scattered them around the remnant. —Julian Lucas, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 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