noun
whittling
Whittling (noun) means the craft of carving shapes out of wood using a small knife. Example: “He took up whittling as a quiet hobby after retiring.”
noun
1
The craft of carving shapes out of wood using a small knife.
"He took up whittling as a quiet hobby after retiring."
2
The gradual reduction of something over time.
"The report describes the slow whittling of the department's budget over a decade."
How to use whittling
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCarving wood with a knife, or the steady wearing-down of something over time.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like whittling.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- whittlings
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He took up _____ as a quiet hobby after retiring.
Rhymes for whittling
See all rhymes for whittling →Frequently asked questions
What does “whittling” mean?
The word “whittling” means the craft of carving shapes out of wood using a small knife. In plain terms, carving wood with a knife, or the steady wearing-down of something over time.
How do you use “whittling” in a sentence?
Here is “whittling” used in a sentence: “He took up whittling as a quiet hobby after retiring.”
What part of speech is “whittling”?
“Whittling” is a noun.
How many meanings does “whittling” have?
“Whittling” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the craft of carving shapes out of wood using a small knife.
