whittle
Whittle (verb) means to shape a piece of wood by slicing off small slivers with a knife. Example: “He sat on the porch whittling a small wooden bird.”
How to use whittle
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo carve wood with a knife, or to cut something down gradually piece by piece.
Word forms
whittled past tense, whittles plural, Whittles plural, whittles plural, whittles singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The committee _____ the shortlist down from twenty names to three.
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.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for whittle
See all rhymes for 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.