Whittled: meaning, definitions and examples

crafting wood

To whittle means to carve or shape wood by cutting small pieces off the material. This technique has been used for centuries by artisans and craftsmen to create various wooden items, from simple toys to intricate sculptures. The act of whittling often requires a knife and a steady hand, as the artist slowly removes layers of wood to form their desired shape. Aside from crafting, the term can also be figuratively used to describe the gradual reduction of something, such as resources or time.

carve, chisel, cut, fashion, shape

Examples of usage

• He whittled a figure from a block of wood.

• She spent the afternoon whittling while sitting by the fire.

• They whittled their budget down to the essentials.

• The artist whittled away at the wood to reveal a beautiful sculpture.