Meaning of the word "whittle down" in English

What does "whittle down" mean in English? Explore the meaning, pronunciation, and specific usage of this word with Lingoland.

whittle down

US /ˈwɪt.əl daʊn/
UK /ˈwɪt.əl daʊn/
"whittle down" picture

Phrasal Verb

to gradually reduce the size or number of something

Example:
We need to whittle down the list of candidates to just three.
The company is trying to whittle down its debt.