Carve (kärv), v. t. [imp. & p. p.Carved (kärvd); p. pr. & vb. n.Carving.] [AS. ceorfan to cut, carve; akin to D. kerven, G. kerben, Dan. karve, Sw. karfva, and to Gr. γράφειν to write, orig. to scratch, and E. -graphy. Cf. Graphic.] 1. To cut.
Or they will carven the shepherd's throat.
Spenser.
2. To cut, as wood, stone, or other material, in an artistic or decorative manner; to sculpture; to engrave.
Carved with figures strange and sweet.
Coleridge.
3. To make or shape by cutting, sculpturing, or engraving; to form; as, to carve a name on a tree.
An angel carved in stone.
Tennyson.
We carved not a line, and we raised not a stone.
C. Wolfe.
4. To cut into small pieces or slices, as meat at table; to divide for distribution or apportionment; to apportion. “To carve a capon.” Shak.
5. To cut: to hew; to mark as if by cutting.
My good blade carved the casques of men.
Tennyson.
A million wrinkles carved his skin.
Tennyson.
6. To take or make, as by cutting; to provide.
Who could easily have carved themselves their own food.
South.
7. To lay out; to contrive; to design; to plan.
Lie ten nights awake carving the fashion of a new doublet.
Shak.
To carve out, to make or get by cutting, or as if by cutting; to cut out. “ with his brandished steel... carved out his passage.” Shak.
Fortunes were carved out of the property of the crown.
Macaulay.