|
|
- pronunciation:
- wI
t
 l
- parts of speech:
- transitive verb, intransitive verb
- features:
- Word Combinations (verb)
| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| inflections: |
whittles, whittling, whittled |
| definition 1: |
to cut or pare small bits or thin layers from (a piece of wood), or to trim or shape (it) by so doing.
In the evenings he sat on his porch and whittled wood.At boy scout camp, he whittled a piece of wood into a bird.- similar words:
- carve
|
| definition 2: |
to reduce the size of (a piece of wood or anything) by, or as if by, cutting; pare down (usu. fol. by "down" or "away").
We must whittle down the budget.That's too many guests; we'll have to whittle down the list. |
|
|
|
|
| part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
| definition: |
to cut or shape a piece of wood by slicing off small bits with a knife.
- similar words:
- carve
|
|
|
| derivation: |
whittler (n.) |
|
|