説明中心

whittle

[ˈwɪtl]

whittle Definition

  • 1to carve wood into an object by repeatedly cutting small, thin pieces from it
  • 2to gradually reduce the size or amount of something

Using whittle: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "whittle" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

  • Example

    He whittled a toy boat out of a piece of wood.

  • Example

    She whittled away at the stick until it was sharp enough to use as a spear.

  • Example

    The company is trying to whittle down its debt.

  • Example

    He whittled his list of potential candidates down to three.

  • Example

    She whittled her waistline down by exercising and eating healthy.

whittle Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for whittle

Antonyms for whittle

Phrases with whittle

  • gradually reduce the size or amount of something

    Example

    The team needs to whittle down the list of potential candidates for the job.

  • to gradually reduce the size or amount of something

    Example

    She whittled away at the pile of paperwork on her desk.

  • to continue to talk about something in a persistent or annoying way

    Example

    He kept whittling on about how he deserved a promotion.

Origins of whittle

from Old English 'thwitan', meaning 'to cut off'

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Summary: whittle in Brief

The verb 'whittle' [ˈwɪtl] means to carve wood by cutting small pieces from it or to gradually reduce the size or amount of something. Examples include 'He whittled a toy boat out of a piece of wood' and 'The company is trying to whittle down its debt.' Phrases like 'whittle down' and 'whittle away' also denote gradual reduction.