sculpture

noun sculp·ture \ ˈskəlp-chər \

|Updated on: 12 Aug 2018

Examples: sculpture in a Sentence

Definition of sculpture

1 a : 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

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Examples of sculpture in a Sentence

a sculpture of an elephant
an exhibit of African sculpture

Recent Examples of sculpture from the Web

The work of all six artists — which include paintings, sculptures and photographs — will remain on display at the museum through Aug. 5 in an exhibit for Sondheim finalists.

— talia richman, baltimoresun.com, "Erick Antonio Benitez named winner of 2018 Sondheim Artscape Prize," 15 July 2018
At Art Museum exhibit runs through Sept. 16, with animatronic sculptures and interactive art.

— mary lou cruz, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Davie area events July 18-28," 14 July 2018
Paik, the granddaddy of video art, hungrily bridged mediums, incorporating music, sculpture, and performance with his TV works.

— cate mcquaid, BostonGlobe.com, "Nam June Paik turned technology into art — and vice versa," 11 July 2018
The Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art, Culture and Industry, scheduled to open in 2020 in Riverside, will feature 700 of the paintings, sculptures and drawings he's collected.

— george varga, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Cheech Marin of Cheech & Chong talks about pot, comedy, music, golf and his Chicano art museum," 11 July 2018
As part of that effort, the post is working on restoring the statue that was created by the same sculptor who designed the sculptures and engravings at Hoover Dam.

— kimberly fornek, chicagotribune.com, "Hinsdale American Legion restoring statue with new medallion, nearly 90 years after original was stolen," 10 July 2018
Eaux Claires has hosted literature, dance, sculpture and performance art, and 18 installations are slated for this year, according to the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram.

— erin richards, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Eaux Claires vs. Summerfest: 1 weekend, 2 very different festivals," 6 July 2018
The pieces — all of which will be on sale for less than $500 — are small (no larger than 14 inches in any dimension) works, vary in media, and include silver point, pencil and charcoal drawings, oil paintings, sculptures, and collages.

— aubri juhasz, The Cut, "This Art Show Explores Motherhood, Supports Immigrant Families," 6 July 2018
So that’s what Alvaro Rivera and other artisans in one small Colombian town along the Venezuelan border are doing — using the once mighty bolivar as raw material to make handbags, bird sculptures and other curios.

— jim wyss, miamiherald, "Venezuela's currency is worth so little that artisans are making purses out it," 20 June 2018

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.

Origin and Etymology of sculpture

Middle English, from Latin sculptura, from sculptus, past participle of sculpere to carve, alteration of scalpere to scratch, carve

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First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

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Other Fine Arts Terms

Gothic, baroque, bas-relief, limn, oeuvre, pastiche, rococo, sfumato

sculpture

verb

Definition of sculpture

sculptured; sculpturing play \ˈskəlp-chə-riŋ, ˈskəlp-shriŋ\

transitive verb

1 a : 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

Examples of sculpture in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of sculpture from the Web

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

First Known Use of sculpture

1645

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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sculpture Synonyms

Synonyms

carve, sculpt;

knap;

cast, form, model, mold, shape;

SCULPTURE Defined for English Language Learners

sculpture

noun

Definition of sculpture for English Language Learners

: a piece of art that is made by carving or molding clay, stone, metal, etc.
: the process or art of carving or molding clay, stone, metal, etc., into a sculpture