whittle

• Глагол, используемый для описания процесса вырезания или придания формы дереву путем срезания мелких тонких кусочков, или, в переносном смысле, для постепенного уменьшения чего-либо.

A verb used to describe the act of carving or shaping wood by cutting small, thin pieces off, or metaphorically, to gradually reduce something.

1. Carve woodB2formal

   To cut small bits or pare shavings from a piece of wood, typically with a knife, to shape it.

   Вырезать из дерева

   • He whittled a small bird from a block of pine.
   • She spent the afternoon whittling a wooden whistle.
   • The old man whittled a walking stick from a branch.

   Синонимыcarvecutfashionhewpareshapeshavetrim

2. Reduce graduallyB2formal

   To gradually reduce or diminish something, such as costs, time, or resources.

   Постепенно сокращать

   • The company whittled down its expenses over several months.
   • We need to whittle the list of candidates to just three.
   • He whittled away at the problem until he found a solution.

   Синонимыcutdecreasediminisherodelessenparereducescale downshavetrim

   Антонимыamplifyaugmentboostenlargeexpandgrowincrease

Фразовые вариантыwhittle awaywhittle down