# chisel

/ˈtʃɪzəɫ/ (US) · /tʃˈɪzəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/chisel
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. a cutting tool

noun · CEFR B2

a metal tool with a sharp edge at the end, used for shaping wood, stone, or metal.

For teachers: a hand tool with a characteristically shaped cutting edge of blade for carving or cutting a hard material such as wood, stone, or metal.

- The carpenter used a sharp chisel to create a space for the door hinge.
- The sculptor carefully positioned the chisel against the marble block before striking it with a wooden mallet to remove the excess stone.

### 2. to carve or shape

verb · CEFR B2

to cut or shape something using a chisel.

For teachers: to cut, shape, or fashion a workpiece using a chisel; often used transitively with the material as the object.

- He spent the afternoon chiselling a pattern into the wooden chest.
- The stonemason chiselled the date of the building's completion into the granite cornerstone with remarkable precision.

### 4. to cheat or haggle

verb · CEFR C2 · Informal

to trick someone or pressure them to get money or a better price.

For teachers: to cheat, swindle, or obtain something through petty or persistent deception; to haggle in an aggressive or unfair manner.

- He tried to chisel me out of ten dollars by lying about the price.
- The street vendor was known for trying to chisel tourists by inflating the prices of basic souvenirs.

## Examples

- The sculptor used a small chisel to carve the details.
- He used a chisel and a hammer to remove the old paint from the stone wall.
- The artisan demonstrated how to hold the chisel correctly to ensure the blade remained sharp and the cuts were clean and precise.

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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.