whittle

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whit|tle /hw'ɪtəl/ (whittles whittling whittled)
[VERB] V n
If you whittle something from a piece of wood, you carve it by cutting pieces off the wood with a knife.
He whittled a new handle for his ax...whittle away
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V P at n
To whittle away something or whittle away at it means to gradually make it smaller, weaker, or less effective.
I believe that the Government's general aim is to whittle away the Welfare State...
Their approach is to whittle away at the evidence to show reasonable doubt.whittle down
[PHRASAL VERB] V n P to/from num/n, V P n (not pron), also V n P
To whittle down a group or thing means to gradually make it smaller.
He had whittled eight interviewees down to two...
The president has agreed to whittle down his proposal.

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