# carve

/ˈkɑɹv/ (US) · /kˈɑːv/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/carve
Updated: 2026-05-02

## Definition

to cut into a hard material like wood or stone to make a shape or a pattern. You also use this word when you cut thin slices of cooked meat for a meal.

For teachers: to cut into a solid material such as wood, stone, or ice to create a decorative object or inscription; also, to slice cooked meat into pieces for serving. Transitive or intransitive depending on whether the object of the cutting is specified.

## Examples

- He likes to carve small animals out of wood.
- The artist spent three months using a small chisel to carve the intricate statue from a single block of marble.
- While the master chef began to carve the roast beef for the guests, the apprentice practiced how to carve delicate floral patterns into the rinds of watermelons for the centerpiece.

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive when followed by the material or the object created; it can be intransitive when describing the general activity.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.