Whittle: meaning, definitions and examples

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whittle

 

[ หˆhwษชtษ™l ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

carving wood

To whittle means to carve shapes out of wood by repeatedly cutting small pieces from it. This technique is often used to create detailed designs or figures through careful, meticulous effort.

Synonyms

carve, chisel, sculpt

Examples of usage

  • He spent the afternoon whittling a wooden duck.
  • She learned to whittle as a child during summer camp.
  • The craftsman whittled a small figurine for his collection.
Context #2 | Verb

reduce gradually

Whittle can also mean to reduce something in size, amount, or intensity bit by bit. This usage often implies a gradual decrease over time.

Synonyms

diminish, lessen, reduce

Examples of usage

  • They whittled down the list of candidates to five.
  • She tried to whittle her expenses by cutting out unnecessary items.
  • The committee whittled the proposal to a more manageable size.

Translations

Translations of the word "whittle" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น afinar

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค˜เคฟเคธเคจเคพ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช schneiden

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ memahat

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะพะฑั€ะพะฑะปัั‚ะธ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ oszlifowaฤ‡

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅ‰Šใ‚‹

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท tailler

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ afilado

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท oymak

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊นŽ๋‹ค

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู†ุญุช

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ลกmirglovat

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ zbrรบsiลฅ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅ‰Šๅ‡

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ oblikovati

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ sniรฐ

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะบะตััƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ›แƒแƒญแƒ แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ kษ™smษ™k

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ desbastar

Etymology

The word 'whittle' comes from the Middle English term 'whittlen,' which is related to the Old English 'hwita,' meaning 'to cut.' It originally referred to the action of cutting or shaving wood. Over time, whittling evolved into a popular craft, especially in rural areas where resources were sparse, and creativity was a necessity. Whittling has a rich history and is often associated with leisure activities, promoting hand-eye coordination and artistic expression. The practice became especially popular among woodworkers and craftsmen, leading to the creation of intricate objects. Cultural references to whittling can be found in various folk traditions, symbolizing patience and artistry.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #32,283 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.