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

Rutted migration routes, carved by the constant pounding of animal hooves, littered northern Pennsylvania. —Literary Hub, 10 June 2026

Formed from the uplift of igneous and metamorphic rock and carved by the Colorado River through erosion, the Grand Canyon remains one of America's natural treasures. —Alia Beard Rau, USA Today, 10 June 2026

Despite similar themes and predictable plot points, the series carves out its own lane. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 9 June 2026

John sought to carve out an identity with George magazine. —Simon Perry, PEOPLE, 9 June 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