carvev. t.[AS. ceorfan to cut, carve; akin to D. kerven, G. kerben, Dan. karve, Sw. karfva, and to Gr. gra`fein to write, orig. to scratch, and E. -graphy. Cf. Graphic.]1. To cut.()Or they will carven the shepherd's throat. (Spenser.)2. To cut, as wood, stone, or other material, in an artistic or decorative manner; to sculpture; to engrave.()Carved with figures strange and sweet. (Coleridge.)3. To make or shape by cutting, sculpturing, or engraving; to form; as, to carve a name on a tree.()An angel carved in stone. (Tennyson.)We carved not a line, and we raised not a stone. (C. Wolfe.)4. To cut into small pieces or slices, as meat at table; to divide for distribution or apportionment; to apportion.(Shak.)5. To cut: to hew; to mark as if by cutting.()My good blade carved the casques of men. (Tennyson.)A million wrinkles carved his skin. (Tennyson.)6. To take or make, as by cutting; to provide.()Who could easily have carved themselves their own food. (South.)7. To lay out; to contrive; to design; to plan.()Lie ten nights awake carving the fashion of a new doublet. (Shak.)To carve out, to make or get by cutting, or as if by cutting; to cut out. [Macbeth] with his brandished steel . . . carved out his passage. Shak.()Fortunes were carved out of the property of the crown. (Macaulay.)v. i.1. To exercise the trade of a sculptor or carver; to engrave or cut figures.()2. To cut up meat; as, to carve for all the guests.()n. A carucate.(Burrill.)