carve

verb

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

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And unlike the rare total solar eclipse that carved a path of totality across only a portion of states in 2024, this month's lunar eclipse will be viewable in all of the lower 48 states. Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2025 Shear also shows promise as a talented director of fellow actors while also carving himself a major role as Allen often did. Pete Hammond, Deadline, 8 Mar. 2025 This is the question on the minds of Democratic voters, where the administration's war path has carved deep into Colorado's blue-state psyche and workforce. John Frank, Axios, 7 Mar. 2025 That case carved out an exception to the president's power to remove executive officers. Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for carve

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of carve was before the 12th century

Cite this Entry

“Carve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/carve. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

carve

verb
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

More from Merriam-Webster on carve

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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