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Antonyms for carve


Grammar : Verb
Spell : kahrv
Phonetic Transcription : kɑrv



Definition of carve

Origin :
  • Old English ceorfan (class III strong verb; past tense cearf, past participle corfen) "to cut, cut down, slay; to carve, cut out, engrave," from West Germanic *kerfan (cf. Old Frisian kerva, Middle Dutch and Dutch kerven, German kerben "to cut, notch"), from PIE root *gerbh- "to scratch," making carve the English cognate of Greek graphein "to write," originally "to scratch" on clay tablets with a stylus.
  • Once extensively used, most senses now usurped by cut (v.). Meaning specialized to sculpture, meat, etc., by 16c. Related: Carved; carving. Original strong conjugation has been abandoned, but archaic carven lingers.
  • verb cut carefully with sharp instrument
Example sentences :
  • As for me, I ask no help from any one: I go into the world and will carve out my own way.
  • Extract from : « Night and Morning, Complete » by Edward Bulwer-Lytton
  • A sculptor was set to work to carve a new one from the ruin.
  • Extract from : « Buried Cities: Pompeii, Olympia, Mycenae » by Jennie Hall
  • But, mon brave,” said he, “you would find this one a tough swine to carve!
  • Extract from : « Louisiana Lou » by William West Winter
  • Ambitious, light-hearted, he went to Africa to carve out a name in the army.
  • Extract from : « The Strollers » by Frederic S. Isham
  • Alden sat down at the table and began to carve a roasted chicken.
  • Extract from : « Victor's Triumph » by Mrs. E. D. E. N. Southworth
  • The general's orders to me were to put you under arrest, not to carve you into small pieces.
  • Extract from : « A Set of Six » by Joseph Conrad
  • But how was I to carve a friend out of this black Bristol at such short notice?
  • Extract from : « The O'Ruddy » by Stephen Crane
  • It shall be the last pipe I will ever carve, and I will remember you whilst I carve it.'
  • Extract from : « An Old Meerschaum » by David Christie Murray
  • He seemed to have been trying to carve his name; for a large E and half of an N were there.
  • Extract from : « Left at Home » by Mary L. Code
  • Just in front of him a butler started to carve a duck with a long, sharp knife.
  • Extract from : « Psychotherapy » by Hugo Mnsterberg

Synonyms for carve

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019