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
• sculpture

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

Since then, the two have carved out a new path: settling in the Montecito hills to raise their two children and venturing into the entertainment space. —Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 20 May 2025

He’s even carved one of Ellie’s moth drawings into the neck. —Keith Phipps, Vulture, 19 May 2025

With more than 2 billion global streams, Barrett has quickly carved out her space in a new class of Gen Z artists balancing streaming success with live impact. —Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 19 May 2025

Trained in the famed Hart Family Dungeon, Natalya has carved out a long and decorated career in WWE since officially signing in 2007. —Andrew Ravens‎, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 May 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