sculpture
SKUHLPT-yuh
Sculpture (noun) means a three-dimensional work of art made by carving, modelling, casting, or assembling material. Example: “She made a small clay sculpture of her cat for her mother.”
noun
1
A three-dimensional work of art made by carving, modelling, casting, or assembling material.
"She made a small clay sculpture of her cat for her mother."
"The museum's courtyard displays a huge steel sculpture."
"Michelangelo's David is one of the most famous sculptures ever made."
2
Sculptures considered collectively, as a category of art.
"Her degree focuses on sculpture rather than painting."
"He has always preferred sculpture to drawing."
"The gallery's top floor is devoted entirely to modern sculpture."
verb
1
To shape material into a three-dimensional artistic form.
"She likes to sculpture animals out of soft clay at weekends."
"They sculptured the ice into a swan for the wedding."
"He sculptures figures from driftwood he collects on the beach."
How to use sculpture
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA piece of art with physical depth and form, not flat like a painting — or the art form itself.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a bronze sculpture
modern sculpture
sculpture garden
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Word forms
- Plural
- sculptures
- Third person singular
- sculptures
- Past tense
- sculptured
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She made a small clay _____ of her cat for her mother.
Etymology
From Old French sculpture, from Latin sculptura, from sculpere, "to carve or cut in stone."
Related words
Rhymes for sculpture
See all rhymes for sculpture →Frequently asked questions
What does “sculpture” mean?
The word “sculpture” means a three-dimensional work of art made by carving, modelling, casting, or assembling material. In plain terms, a piece of art with physical depth and form, not flat like a painting — or the art form itself.
How do you pronounce “sculpture”?
“Sculpture” is pronounced SKUHLPT-yuh (/ˈskʌlpt͡ʃɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “sculpture” in a sentence?
Here is “sculpture” used in a sentence: “The museum's courtyard displays a huge steel sculpture.”
What part of speech is “sculpture”?
Depending on how it is used, “sculpture” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “sculpture” come from?
The word “sculpture” comes from Latin. From Old French sculpture, from Latin sculptura, from sculpere, "to carve or cut in stone.".
Is “sculpture” a common word?
“Sculpture” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “sculpture” have?
“Sculpture” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a three-dimensional work of art made by carving, modelling, casting, or assembling material.
What is the difference between a sculpture and a statue?
A statue is a particular kind of sculpture, usually a freestanding representation of a person or animal at life size or larger. Sculpture is the broader term for any three-dimensional work of art made by carving, modelling, casting, or assembling material.
What is the difference between sculpture and carving?
Carving is one specific technique of making sculpture, in which material such as wood or stone is cut away to reveal a form. Sculpture is the wider art form that also includes modelling, casting, and assembling, so all carvings are sculptures but not all sculptures are carved.
What is the difference between a sculpture and a sculptor?
A sculpture is the three-dimensional work of art itself. A sculptor is the artist who makes it by carving, modelling, casting, or assembling material, so the sculptor creates the sculpture.
Is sculpture a countable or uncountable noun?
Sculpture is countable when referring to individual works, so you can have one sculpture or several sculptures. It is uncountable when referring to the art form as a whole, as in "she studied sculpture at art school."
