verb
- past tense of whittle; carved or shaped wood by cutting away small pieces with a knife
- past tense of whittle; gradually reduced or diminished something in size or amount
Usage: often used with ‘down’ or ‘away’
Examples
- He whittled a small bird from a piece of oak.
- She whittled the stick into a sharp point.
- The budget was whittled down to essential items only.
- Over time, the list of candidates was whittled to three finalists.
- Grandfather whittled toys for the children during long winter evenings.
- The company whittled away at employee benefits year after year.
- He whittled the wooden block into a miniature horse.