sculpture

noun

sculp·ture | \ˈskəlp-chər

Definition of sculpture

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : the action or art of processing (as by carving, modeling, or welding) plastic or hard materials into works of art

b(1) : work produced by sculpture

(2) : a three-dimensional work of art (such as a statue)

2 : impressed or raised markings or a pattern of such especially on a plant or animal part

sculpture

verb

sculptured; sculpturing\ˈskəlp-chə-riŋ,

ˈskəlp-shriŋ \

Definition of sculpture (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to form an image or representation of from solid material (such as wood or stone)

b : to form into a three-dimensional work of art

2 : to change (the form of the earth's surface) by natural processes (such as erosion and deposition)

3 : to shape by or as if by carving or molding

intransitive verb

: to work as a sculptor

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about sculpture

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of sculpture in a Sentence

Noun

a sculpture of an elephant an exhibit of African sculpture

Verb

the artist used a hammer and chisel to sculpture the horse out of ice

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Once in Latrobe, stops include a sculpture of him at 200 Main St. and an exhibit open Monday-Friday at Saint Vincent College. — Beth J. Harpaz, chicagotribune.com, "It's a beautiful day in Pennsylvania on Mister Rogers' trail," 12 July 2018 Central to the ceiling is a gridlike sculpture of curved crisscrossed slats and beams. — Florence Fabricant, New York Times, "Stir, in Philadelphia Museum of Art, Prepares for October Opening," 10 July 2018 The park on Highway 13 south of Phillips protects the concrete sculptures of Fred Smith. — Chelsey Lewis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Wisconsin's highest point - Timm's Hill - is a quiet escape away from everything," 5 July 2018 This Spanish 16th century wooden sculpture of St George was helpfully touched up by the local Arts and Crafts teacher. — Lisa Gutierrez, kansascity, "Pee-Wee Herman? Art world fumes over 'botched' restoration of 16th-century St. George," 27 June 2018 For an intensely religious commemoration of that same day, head to the small city of Caacupé, the country’s Christian hub and the site of old miracle story centering around the wooden sculpture of the Virgin Mary in the church at Tobati. — Mark Ellwood, Condé Nast Traveler, "The Best Places to Visit in August," 27 June 2018 As artists’ friends have been known to do, Circle presses Square to make a sculpture of her, too. — Meghan Cox Gurdon, WSJ, "Children’s Books: With Dad by My Side, There’s Nothing I Can’t Do," 15 June 2018 This contraction of various facial muscles resonates across the entire arc of human history, from the grinning Greek kouros sculptures of 2,500 years ago right up to emoji, those little images that pepper our online communications. — Neil Steinberg, CNN, "How far would you go to be able to smile?," 13 June 2018 Other museums face similar problems: some of the paints in Jackson Pollock’s works were made with plastics, as were the acrylic sculptures of the pop art movement. — Alex Wong, National Geographic, "The Race to Save Historic Plastic Artifacts," 31 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

What is the significance of sharing art and specifically sculpture outside? — Trevor Fraser, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Local artist donates sculpture for auction to aid Wells'Built Museum," 3 Apr. 2018 A life-size cow sculptured from butter has been a tradition at the Ohio State Fair since the early 1900s. — Polly Campbell, Cincinnati.com, "Ohio's 2017 butter sculpture: In living color," 25 July 2017 Two round medallions that stud this one-of-a-kind Makassar ebony pendant are sculptured from gold. — Nancy Hass, New York Times, "T Magazine Newsletter," 10 Nov. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sculpture.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.