statue
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.a large art object made of stone, metal, or wood that looks like a person or animal.
n.a three-dimensional work of art representing a human, animal, or mythical figure, usually created by sculpting, carving, or casting.
Simple“The city built a bronze statue of the famous singer in the main square.”
In context“The marble statue stood in the center of the atrium, its intricate details preserved despite centuries of exposure to the elements.”
PitfallThe statue of the park was very tall. The statue in the park was very tall.Use 'in' to describe the location of a statue, or 'of' to describe who the statue represents (e.g., 'a statue of the king').
- 02 C2 Proficiency
v.to turn something into a statue or to make a statue of someone.
v.to represent or form into a statue; to immortalise a subject through sculpture.
Simple“The poet described how the cold wind seemed to statue the hikers in place.”
In context“In his epic verse, the writer sought to statue the fallen heroes in the minds of the readers, rendering their sacrifice permanent through language.”
UsageThis verb use is rare and typically found in poetic or highly formal contexts.
From Old French statue, from Latin statua, derived from statuō (“set up or erect”). Doublet of statua.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.