ENGLISH
REFERENCE

carved

v.
B1 Intermediate US //ˈkɑɹvd// UK //kˈɑːvd// carved

v. to cut into a hard material like wood or stone to make a shape or a pattern. You can also use it to describe cutting thin slices of cooked meat.

v. to cut into a solid material such as wood, stone, or ivory to create a decorative object or inscription; also used to describe slicing cooked meat for serving.


SIMPLE

He carved his name into the old wooden desk.

CONTEXTUAL

The artist spent several months as she carved a life-sized statue from a single block of white marble.

COMPLEX

Ancient civilizations often carved intricate symbols into temple walls to record their history and religious beliefs for future generations.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage

The verb is transitive and requires a direct object representing either the material being shaped or the object being created.

Pitfall

he carved on the woodhe carved the woodWhen describing the act of shaping a material, the verb is transitive and does not require the preposition 'on'.

Idioms1 entry

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