Meaning of the word whittle in English
What does whittle mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.
whittle
US /ˈwɪt̬.əl/
UK /ˈwɪt.əl/
Verb
1.
to carve or shape (wood) by repeatedly cutting small slices from it
Example:
•
He spent the afternoon whittling a small bird out of a piece of wood.
•
Grandpa used to sit on the porch and whittle wooden figures.
2.
to reduce something in size, amount, or extent by a gradual process
Example:
•
They managed to whittle down the list of candidates to three finalists.
•
We need to whittle away at the expenses to stay within budget.
Related Word: