carving

UK: /ˈkɑː^rvɪŋ/ US: (kär′ving)

From the verb carve: (⇒ conjugate)

carving is: ⓘ

v pres p

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

carv•ing  (kär′ving), n. 

1. the act of fashioning or producing by cutting into or shaping solid material, as wood.
2. a carved design or figure.

• See carve, -ing¹

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

carving / ˈkɑːvɪŋ/ noun

1. a figure or design produced by carving stone, wood, etc

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

carve /kɑrv/   v., carved, carv•ing. 

1. to cut (a solid material) so as to form something: [~ + object]
   to carve a piece of ebony.
   [no object]
   They have been carving for years.
2. [~ + object] to form from a solid material by cutting:
   carved unusual statues out of wood and ivory.
3. to cut (meat) into pieces or slices: [~ + object]
   She carved the turkey expertly.
   [no object]
   Let him carve this year.
4. to decorate with designs or figures cut on the surface:
   [~ + object] The craftsman carved the top and sides of the chest.
5. to cut (a design) into solid material:
   [~ + object] She carved her initials on the tree.
6. [~ + out + object] to make or create for oneself:
   He carved out a successful career in business.

carv•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

carve  (kärv), v., carved, carv•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to cut (a solid material) so as to form something:
   to carve a piece of pine.
2. to form from a solid material by cutting:
   to carve a statue out of stone.
3. to cut into slices or pieces, as a roast of meat.
4. to decorate with designs or figures cut on the surface:
   The top of the box was beautifully carved with figures of lions and unicorns.
5. to cut (a design, figures, etc.) on a surface:
   Figures of lions and unicorns were carved on the top of the box.
6. to make or create for oneself (often fol. by out):
   He carved out a career in business.

v.i. 

7. to carve figures, designs, etc.
8. to cut meat.

• bef. 1000; Middle English kerven, Old English ceorfan to cut; cognate with Middle Low German kerven, German kerben, Greek gráphein to mark, write; see graph

carv′er, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

carve / kɑːv/ verb

1. (transitive) to cut or chip in order to form something: to carve wood
2. to decorate or form (something) by cutting or chipping: to carve statues
3. to slice (meat) into pieces

Etymology: Old English ceorfan; related to Old Frisian kerva, Middle High German kerben to notch