ENGLISH
REFERENCE

sculpture

n. C / U
B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ˈskəɫptʃɝ// UK //skˈʌlptʃɐ// sculp·ture Archaic General-service

n. a piece of art made by shaping stone, wood, metal, or clay. You can walk around it and see it from all sides because it is three-dimensional.

n. a three-dimensional work of art created by shaping or combining materials such as marble, metal, glass, or wood. The process may involve carving, modelling, casting, or welding.


SIMPLE

The artist created a large sculpture of a horse.

CONTEXTUAL

The museum recently installed a modern sculpture made of recycled steel in the central courtyard.

COMPLEX

While classical sculpture often focuses on the realistic representation of the human form, contemporary pieces may explore abstract concepts through negative space and industrial materials.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English sculpture, from Old French sculpture, from Latin sculptūra (“sculpture”), from sculpō (“to cut out, to carve in stone”).

Usage

Countable when referring to a specific work of art; uncountable when referring to the art form or activity in general.

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