carving

Everyday

1. A carving is an object or pattern made by cutting wood, stone or another material. tree →
2. Carving is the art or activity of cutting shapes into a material. tree →
3. Carving means cutting cooked meat into slices. tree →

In the lessons

In art and history lessons, pupils see stone carvings, totem poles and Maori wood carvings. In everyday life families carve pumpkins at Halloween and carve the roast at a family dinner. Phrases: wood carving, pumpkin carving, carving knife.

Examples

• The museum has old stone carvings. tree →
• We went pumpkin carving at Halloween. tree →
• The totem pole has carvings of animals. tree →
• Maori wood carvings tell stories of ancestors. tree →
• Dad was carving the turkey. tree →
• Carving takes patience and a sharp tool. tree →
• Only a grown-up should use a carving knife. tree →
• Just let me finish carving this cross. tree →

Note

Carve: the e drops before -ing: carving. Countable when it is an object (a carving), uncountable for the activity. Safety: carving tools and knives are sharp; children should carve with a grown-up and cut away from their body.

In Jewish tradition

It means the craft of cutting wood into shapes, or a shape that is cut. Bezalel was given skill in it for the Tabernacle, and Solomon's Temple doors had carvings of cherubim, palm-trees and flowers.

Interpretation. Tradition says Bezalel was filled with divine wisdom for this work. His craft shows that skilled work for holy purposes is itself holy.

Examples

• and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all manner of workmanship. (Torah EXO.31.5, JPS 1917) tree →
• and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all manner of skilful workmanship. (Torah EXO.35.33, JPS 1917) tree →
• And as for the two doors of olive-wood, he carved upon them carvings of cherubim and palm-trees and open flowers, and overlaid them with gold; and he spread the gold upon the cherubim, and upon the palm-trees. (Prophets 1KI.6.32, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Carve: the e drops before -ing: carving. Countable when it is an object (a carving), uncountable for the activity. Safety: carving tools and knives are sharp; children should carve with a grown-up and cut away from their body.