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

The craft of carving shapes out of wood using a small knife.

"He took up whittling as a quiet hobby after retiring."

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 notes

In plain EnglishCarving wood with a knife, or the steady wearing-down of something over time.

Word forms

whittlings plural

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He took up _____ as a quiet hobby after retiring.

Rhymes for whittling

belittling

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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.