carpenter
KAH-puhn-tuh
Carpenter (noun) means a person skilled in cutting, shaping, and joining wood to build or repair structures and furniture. Example: “The carpenter built a custom bookshelf for the study.”
noun
1
A person skilled in cutting, shaping, and joining wood to build or repair structures and furniture.
"The carpenter built a custom bookshelf for the study."
"She trained as a carpenter after finishing her apprenticeship."
"We hired a carpenter to fit new wooden stairs in the hallway."
verb
1
To work as a carpenter; to build or repair things in wood.
"He spent weekends carpentering in his garage workshop."
"She carpentered for a boatyard before starting her own furniture business."
"My grandfather carpentered all his life and made every chair in our kitchen."
How to use carpenter
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomeone whose job is building or fixing things made of wood — houses, furniture, frames, and so on.
Common pairings
a skilled carpenter
carpenter's tools
hire a carpenter
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Word forms
- Plural
- carpenters
- Third person singular
- carpenters
- Past tense
- carpentered
Fill the gap
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The _____ built a custom bookshelf for the study.
Etymology
From Old French carpentier, ultimately from Latin carpentarius, "maker of a carriage or cart" — the word originally meant a builder of wagons before it narrowed to mean a general woodworker.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for carpenter
See all rhymes for carpenter →Frequently asked questions
What does “carpenter” mean?
The word “carpenter” means a person skilled in cutting, shaping, and joining wood to build or repair structures and furniture. In plain terms, someone whose job is building or fixing things made of wood — houses, furniture, frames, and so on.
How do you pronounce “carpenter”?
“Carpenter” is pronounced KAH-puhn-tuh (/ˈkɑɹpəntɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “carpenter” in a sentence?
Here is “carpenter” used in a sentence: “The carpenter built a custom bookshelf for the study.”
What part of speech is “carpenter”?
Depending on how it is used, “carpenter” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “carpenter” come from?
The word “carpenter” comes from Latin. From Old French carpentier, ultimately from Latin carpentarius, "maker of a carriage or cart" — the word originally meant a builder of wagons before it narrowed to mean a general woodworker.
Is “carpenter” a common word?
“Carpenter” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “carpenter” have?
“Carpenter” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person skilled in cutting, shaping, and joining wood to build or repair structures and furniture.
What is the difference between a carpenter and a joiner?
A carpenter typically works with wood on-site, framing structures and doing general construction and repair work, while a joiner more often builds finer wood items like doors, cabinets, and furniture in a workshop. In everyday use, though, the terms often overlap.
Can "carpenter" be used as a verb?
Yes. As a verb, "to carpenter" means to work as a carpenter or to build and repair things in wood, though this usage is less common than the noun form.
What skills does a carpenter typically have?
A carpenter is skilled in cutting, shaping, and joining wood to construct or repair structures and furniture. This includes reading measurements accurately, using hand and power tools, and understanding how wood behaves under stress.
