whittle — to cut or carve wood into a particular shape by repeatedly cutting small slices from it
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to cut or carve wood into a particular shape by repeatedly cutting small slices from it
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈwɪtəl/
Example Sentences
- My grandfather could whittle amazing bird sculptures from simple tree branches.
- The manager tried to whittle down the meeting time from 3 hours to 30 minutes, but everyone kept talking anyway.
- She whittled her daily expenses by making coffee at home instead of buying it.
whittle
VERB[/ˈwɪtəl/]
to cut or carve wood into a particular shape by repeatedly cutting small slices from it
The old sailor whittles a piece of driftwood into a tiny boat.
WH(whole) + ITTLE(little) — aiming to turn the WH(whole) debt into a ITTLE(little) amount, they managed to whittle down the giant bill.
Determined to make the heavy branch completely little, the boy used his sharp pocket knife to whittle it into a tiny dagger.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Middle English 'thwittle', derived from Old English 'thwitan' meaning 'to cut or pare'. Originally referred to a knife used for cutting wood, then evolved into the verb meaning to carve or cut away small pieces.
Breakdown
thwit- (to cut, pare) + -le (tool suffix, indicating an instrument used for the action)
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandfather could whittle amazing bird sculptures from simple tree branches.”
“The manager tried to whittle down the meeting time from 3 hours to 30 minutes, but everyone kept talking anyway.”
“She whittled her daily expenses by making coffee at home instead of buying it.”
“After hours of whittling, he proudly showed off his wooden spoon that looked suspiciously like a bent fork.”
📚Related Words
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