whittle
1 synonym for whittle, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To shape a piece of wood by slicing off small slivers with a knife.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use whittle
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
whittle a stick
whittle down a list
whittle away at savings
Etymology
From an old form of thwitel, "a large knife," itself from an Old English verb meaning "to cut or strike down" — the same root as the rarer word thwite.
Full origin of whittle →Frequently asked questions
What does “whittle” mean?
The word “whittle” means to shape a piece of wood by slicing off small slivers with a knife. In plain terms, to carve wood with a knife, or to cut something down gradually piece by piece.
How do you pronounce “whittle”?
“Whittle” is pronounced WIH-tuhl (/ˈwɪtəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “whittle” in a sentence?
Here is “whittle” used in a sentence: “The committee whittled the shortlist down from twenty names to three.”
What part of speech is “whittle”?
“Whittle” is a verb.
Where does the word “whittle” come from?
The word “whittle” comes from Old English. From an old form of thwitel, "a large knife," itself from an Old English verb meaning "to cut or strike down" — the same root as the rarer word thwite.
How many meanings does “whittle” have?
“Whittle” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to shape a piece of wood by slicing off small slivers with a knife.
