Reading Theme:
Carve: Definition, Usage & Examples Explained (2 meaning)
Meaning 1：slice cooked meat (carve)
carve
/kɑːrv/
v.
To cut cooked meat into thin slices with a knife so people can eat it.
slice cooked meat
➕
/slaɪs kʊkt miːt/
v.
To cut cooked meat into thin slices for serving or eating.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Old English 'ceorfan', meaning 'to cut'.
💡 Mnemonic
Carve to cut, for food or art; the 'v' in carve stands for 'very sharp' tool.
📖 Example
At Thanksgiving dinner, my father will carve the big turkey at the head of the table.
During the Thanksgiving meal, my dad slices the large turkey at the table's head.
🔗 Collocations
carve the turkey – to slice a turkey for eating
carve a roast – to cut roasted meat into portions
carve up – to divide meat by cutting
🔄 Synonyms
🚫 Antonyms
serve (v.) – to present food without slicing
🌱 Derivatives
📖 Cultural Story
Carve derives from Old English 'ceorfan' (to cut). In modern culture, it is central to Thanksgiving turkey carving and artistic practices like wood and stone carving.
Meaning 2：sculpt from hard material (carve)
carve
/kɑːrv/
v.
To cut a hard material like wood or stone with a special knife to make a design, pattern, or object.
sculpt from hard material
➕
/skʌlpt frəm hɑːrd məˈtɪəriəl/
v.
To cut hard materials like wood or stone to create designs, patterns, or objects.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
The artist spent months to carve a beautiful bird out of a single piece of wood.
The artist took months to sculpt a beautiful bird from a block of wood.
🔗 Collocations
carve wood – to cut wood to make shapes
carve a statue – to sculpt a figure from material
carve out – to create by cutting, often metaphorically
🔄 Synonyms
🚫 Antonyms
assemble (v.) – to put parts together, not cut apart
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