carve
UK: kɑːv | US: kɑːrv
vt. to cut (a solid material) into a desired shape or form
vt. to create or produce by cutting, especially artistically
vi. to slice or divide meat for serving
The word "carve" traces back to Old English ceorfan, meaning "to cut, carve, or engrave." It shares roots with Old High German kerban (to notch) and Old Norse korfa (to cut). The modern spelling "carve" emerged in Middle English, retaining its core meaning of shaping or dividing through cutting. The morpheme carv preserves the original action of cutting, while the silent -e marks it as a verb. Historically, the word was associated with woodworking and meat preparation, reflecting its practical and artistic dual use.
The artist used a chisel to carve a statue from marble.
He carefully carved the turkey for Thanksgiving dinner.
Ancient tribes carved symbols into stone to record their history.
She learned to carve intricate designs on wooden boxes.
Glaciers carve valleys over thousands of years.