# carved

/ˈkɑɹvd/ (US) · /kˈɑːvd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/carved
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. shaped or decorated

adjective · CEFR B1

made by cutting into a solid material like wood, stone, or ice to create a shape or pattern.

For teachers: shaped or decorated by the manual removal of material from a solid substrate, typically wood or stone.

- The old church had beautiful carved wooden doors that were hundreds of years old.
- The museum's collection features several intricately carved ivory figurines dating back to the late Ming dynasty.

Usage: Often used before a noun to describe furniture, architecture, or art.

## Examples

- He carved his name into the old wooden desk.
- The artist spent several months as she carved a life-sized statue from a single block of white marble.
- Ancient civilizations often carved intricate symbols into temple walls to record their history and religious beliefs for future generations.

---

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.