sculp·ture
ˈskəlp-chər 
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
sculptured; sculpturing
ˈskəlp-chə-riŋ
ˈskəlp-shriŋ
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
: to work as a sculptor
Synonyms
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
Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 5 Apr. 2024
Now, researchers say the rock could be a sand sculpture created to look like a blue stingray (Dasyatis chrysonata), which are often found in southern Africa.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
Moving between painting, drawing, sculpture and architectural intervention, Brody used commonplace materials to reveal unseen bodies and negative space.
—Caitie Kelly Lindsey Tramuta Lauren Cochrane Angela Koh Laura Bannister Gisela Williams, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
The camera — like Tom, by extension — takes pleasure in the texture of a pitted wall, in the smooth marble of Baroque sculptures, and looks lovingly on all manner of objects, appropriate to a story partially about the power of things to define taste, furnish a life, create a self.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Using $250,000 in budget surplus funds, the city has hired an art agency called Local Edition Creative to design and produce five murals along with interactive art or sculptures in several areas of the city, including downtown.
—Judith Prieve, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024
Griffin has just returned from a weekend getaway to Storm King Art Center, an open-air garden museum in upstate New York that features the largest collection of contemporary outdoor sculptures in the country.
—Essence, 2 Apr. 2024
Over the course of the 20th century, various artists—from Man Ray to Cindy Sherman—gradually changed that attitude, but one invention helped elevate the medium to the level of painting or sculpture: digital image scanners.
—The Editors, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2024
The oval-like shape features an opening large enough for passersby to walk inside the 42.5-ton sculpture’s walls.
—Kaitlyn Huamani, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Peter Lyon, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
Modeling in clay was a way to process the paintings and sculpture the young man was discovering in the art metropolis of the Western world.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 23 June 2023
A life-size cow sculptured from butter has been a tradition at the Ohio State Fair since the early 1900s.
—Polly Campbell, Cincinnati.com, 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, 10 Nov. 2016
Noun
The gorgeous Grand Salon glitters with elegant crystal chandeliers, crystal animal sculptures, and bright red floral arrangements — and that’s just the beginning.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 5 Apr. 2024
Now, researchers say the rock could be a sand sculpture created to look like a blue stingray (Dasyatis chrysonata), which are often found in southern Africa.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Apr. 2024
Moving between painting, drawing, sculpture and architectural intervention, Brody used commonplace materials to reveal unseen bodies and negative space.
—Caitie Kelly Lindsey Tramuta Lauren Cochrane Angela Koh Laura Bannister Gisela Williams, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2024
The camera — like Tom, by extension — takes pleasure in the texture of a pitted wall, in the smooth marble of Baroque sculptures, and looks lovingly on all manner of objects, appropriate to a story partially about the power of things to define taste, furnish a life, create a self.
—Robert Lloyd, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2024
Using $250,000 in budget surplus funds, the city has hired an art agency called Local Edition Creative to design and produce five murals along with interactive art or sculptures in several areas of the city, including downtown.
—Judith Prieve, The Mercury News, 2 Apr. 2024
Griffin has just returned from a weekend getaway to Storm King Art Center, an open-air garden museum in upstate New York that features the largest collection of contemporary outdoor sculptures in the country.
—Essence, 2 Apr. 2024
Over the course of the 20th century, various artists—from Man Ray to Cindy Sherman—gradually changed that attitude, but one invention helped elevate the medium to the level of painting or sculpture: digital image scanners.
—The Editors, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2024
The oval-like shape features an opening large enough for passersby to walk inside the 42.5-ton sculpture’s walls.
—Kaitlyn Huamani, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Verb
Co-developed with NISMO, Nissan’s in-house racing and customizing arm, the Hyper-Force’s carbon-fiber body is sculptured like a fighter jet with the sole purpose of going as fast as possible.
—Peter Lyon, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
Modeling in clay was a way to process the paintings and sculpture the young man was discovering in the art metropolis of the Western world.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 23 June 2023
A life-size cow sculptured from butter has been a tradition at the Ohio State Fair since the early 1900s.
—Polly Campbell, Cincinnati.com, 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, 10 Nov. 2016
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sculpture.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, from Latin sculptura, from sculptus, past participle of sculpere to carve, alteration of scalpere to scratch, carve
First Known Use
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1645, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of sculpture was
in the 14th century
Phrases Containing sculpture
Articles Related to sculpture
Dictionary Entries Near sculpture
Cite this Entry
“Sculpture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sculpture. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
sculpture
1 of 2 noun
sculp·ture
ˈskəlp-chər
1
: the act, process, or art of carving or cutting hard substances, modeling plastic substances, or casting melted metals into works of art
2
a
: work produced by sculpture
b
: a piece of such work
sculptural
adjective
-chə-rəl
-shrəl
sculpture
2 of 2 verb
sculptured; sculpturing
ˈskəlp-chə-riŋ
ˈskəlp-shriŋ
1
: to make sculptures
2
: to shape by or as if by carving or molding
More from Merriam-Webster on sculpture
Nglish: Translation of sculpture for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of sculpture for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sculpture
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share