carve
verb /kɑːv/
/kɑːrv/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they carve | /kɑːv/ /kɑːrv/ |
| he / she / it carves | /kɑːvz/ /kɑːrvz/ |
| past simple carved | /kɑːvd/ /kɑːrvd/ |
| past participle carved | /kɑːvd/ /kɑːrvd/ |
| -ing form carving | /ˈkɑːvɪŋ/ /ˈkɑːrvɪŋ/ |
- [transitive, intransitive] to make objects, patterns, etc. by cutting away material from a piece of wood or stone, or another hard material
- carve something a carved doorway
- carve something from/out of something The statue was carved out of a single piece of stone.
- The beads were carved from solid ivory.
- carve something into/in something The wood had been carved into the shape of a flower.
- (figurative) Over the centuries, melting snow had carved valleys in the landscape.
- carve in something She carves in both stone and wood.
Collocations Fine artsFine artsCreating artTopics Artc1, Buildingsc1- make a work of art/a drawing/a sketch/a sculpture/a statue/engravings/etchings/prints
- do an oil painting/a self-portrait/a line drawing/a rough sketch
- create a work of art/an artwork/paintings and sculptures
- produce paintings/portraits/oil sketches/his most celebrated work/a series of prints
- paint a picture/landscape/portrait/mural/in oils/in watercolours/(US English) in watercolors/on canvas
- draw a picture/a portrait/a cartoon/a sketch/a line/a figure/the human form/in charcoal/in ink
- sketch a preliminary drawing/a figure/a shape
- carve a figure/an image/a sculpture/an altarpiece/reliefs/a block of wood
- sculpt a portrait bust/a statue/an abstract figure
- etch a line/a pattern/a design/a name into the glass
- mix colours/(US English) colors/pigments/paints
- add/apply thin/thick layers of paint/colour/(US English) color/pigment
- use oil pastels/charcoal/acrylic paint/a can of spray paint
- work in bronze/ceramics/stone/oils/pastels/watercolour/a wide variety of media
- paint/depict a female figure/a biblical scene/a pastoral landscape/a domestic interior
- depict/illustrate a traditional/mythological/historical/religious theme
- create an abstract composition/a richly textured surface/a distorted perspective
- paint dark/rich/skin/flesh tones
- use broad brush strokes/loose brushwork/vibrant colours/a limited palette/simple geometric forms
- develop/adopt/paint in a stylized manner/an abstract style
- commission an altarpiece/a bronze bust of somebody/a portrait/a religious work/an artist to paint something
- frame a painting/portrait
- hang art/a picture/a painting
- display/exhibit modern art/somebody’s work/a collection/original artwork/drawings/sculptures/a piece/a painting
- be displayed/hung in a gallery/museum
- install/place a sculpture in/at/on something
- erect/unveil a bronze/marble/life-size statue
- hold/host/mount/open/curate/see an exhibition (especially British English)/(North American English usually) an exhibit
- be/go on (British English) exhibition/(North American English) exhibit
- feature/promote/showcase a conceptual artist/contemporary works
- collect African art/modern British paintings/Japanese prints
- restore/preserve a fresco/great works of art
- [transitive] carve something (on something) to write something on a surface by cutting into it
- They carved their initials on the desk.
- A Latin inscription had been carved on the lid of the box.
- [transitive, intransitive] to cut a large piece of cooked meat into smaller pieces for eating
enlarge image- carve (something) | carve (somebody) something Who's going to carve the turkey?
Extra ExamplesTopics Cooking and eatingc1- Lunch is ready. Who's going to carve?
- She taught me how to carve a leg of lamb.
- We watched as the waiter expertly carved the duck.
- [transitive, no passive] to work hard in order to have a successful career, reputation, etc.
- carve something (out) He succeeded in carving out a career in the media.
- carve something (out) for yourself She has carved a place for herself in the fashion world.
Word OriginOld English ceorfan ‘cut, carve’, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch kerven.
Idioms
carved/set in stone
- (of a decision, plan, etc.) unable to be changed
- People should remember that our proposals aren't set in stone.
- These rules are not set in stone.