carve
carve /k'ɑːrv/ (carves carving carved)
1 [VERB] V n, V n prep, V, V-ed
If you carve an object, you make it by cutting it out of a substance such as wood or stone. If you carve something such as wood or stone into an object, you make the object by cutting it out.
One of the prisoners has carved a beautiful wooden chess set...
He carves his figures from white pine...
I picked up a piece of wood and started carving.
...carved stone figures.
see also carving
= sculpt
2 [VERB] V n in/on n, V-ed
If you carve writing or a design on an object, you cut it into the surface of the object.
He carved his name on his desk...
The ornately carved doors were made in the seventeenth century.
3 [VERB] V n, V n into n
If you carve a piece of cooked meat, you cut slices from it so that you can eat it.
Andrew began to carve the chicken...
Carve the beef into slices.carve up
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you say that someone carves something up, you disapprove of the way they have divided it into small parts.
He has set about carving up the company which Hammer created from almost nothing...
They have begun carving the country up like a pie.
1 [VERB] V n, V n prep, V, V-ed
If you carve an object, you make it by cutting it out of a substance such as wood or stone. If you carve something such as wood or stone into an object, you make the object by cutting it out.
One of the prisoners has carved a beautiful wooden chess set...
He carves his figures from white pine...
I picked up a piece of wood and started carving.
...carved stone figures.
see also carving
= sculpt
2 [VERB] V n in/on n, V-ed
If you carve writing or a design on an object, you cut it into the surface of the object.
He carved his name on his desk...
The ornately carved doors were made in the seventeenth century.
3 [VERB] V n, V n into n
If you carve a piece of cooked meat, you cut slices from it so that you can eat it.
Andrew began to carve the chicken...
Carve the beef into slices.carve up
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you say that someone carves something up, you disapprove of the way they have divided it into small parts.
He has set about carving up the company which Hammer created from almost nothing...
They have begun carving the country up like a pie.