whittle down

: a large knife

: to pare or cut off chips from the surface of (wood) with a knife

: to shape or form by so paring or cutting

: to reduce, remove, or destroy gradually as if by cutting off bits with a knife : pare

: toward or in a lower physical position

: to a lying or sitting position

: toward or to the ground, floor, or bottom

: down (see ¹down) along, around, through, toward, in, into, or on

: to cause to go or come down (see ¹down) : such as

: to cause to fall by or as if by shooting : bring down

: consume

: occupying a low position

: directed or going downward

: lower in price

: descent, depression

: an instance of putting down someone (such as an opponent in wrestling)

: a complete play to advance the ball

: an undulating usually treeless upland with sparse soil

: a sheep of any breed originating in the downs of southern England

: a covering of soft fluffy feathers

: something soft and fluffy like down

: down syndrome