carve
verb [ I or T ] uk/kɑːv/ us/kɑːrv/
C2 （尤指在石头或木头上）雕刻
to make something by cutting into especially wood or stone, or to cut into the surface of stone, wood, etc.
This totem pole is carved from/out of a single tree trunk. 这根图腾柱是由一整根树干雕刻而成的。
He carved her name on a tree. 他将她的名字刻在了树上。
Some of the tunnels in the cliff are natural, some were carved out (= cut into the rock) by soldiers for defensive purposes. 峭壁中的一些隧道是天然形成的，一些是士兵们在石头上开凿出来用于防御的。
把（熟肉）切成小片
to cut thin pieces from a large piece of cooked meat
Would you like me to carve (the chicken)? 您要我（把鸡肉）切成小块吗？
- More examples
- There were three large figures carved out of the rock.
- He carved the wood to resemble a small bird.
- My father always carved at Sunday dinner.
Idiom
carved in stoneidiom informal 无法改变的；铁板钉钉的
If a suggestion, plan, rule, etc. is carved in stone, it cannot be changed.
These proposals are for discussion, they're not carved in stone. 这些提议是供讨论的，并非不可更改。
Phrasal verbs
carve something out (for yourself) 靠努力开创出；努力赢得，谋得（尤指职位）
to successfully create or get something, especially a work position, by working for it
He hopes to carve out a niche for himself as a leading researcher in his field of study. 他希望在自己的研究领域里闯出一个学术带头人的地位。
She carved out a reputation for herself as an aggressive manager. 她作为一个咄咄逼人的经理人名声在外。
carve someone up 突然超车；快速切入（别人）的行车线
to drive past another car and then suddenly drive in front of it
Some idiot carved us up on the way over here - I don't know how he missed us! 有个白痴从路这边突然超我们的车——不知怎地居然没撞上我们！
carve something up 分割，瓜分
to divide something into smaller parts
The Nazi-Soviet pact carved up the Baltic states in 1939. 1939年签订的《德苏和约》瓜分了波罗的海各国。