carved

Carved is the past participle of the verb carve and is used as an adjective to describe objects whose forms have been shaped by removing material with cutting tools. This process is typically associated with soft or malleable materials like wood and stone but can apply to bone, ivory, metal, glass, or ceramics that have been cut, gouged, or incised to reveal patterns, figures, or inscriptions.

Carved works appear throughout art and architecture. In sculpture, relief carvings project from a background, while sculpture in the round stands free. In furniture and decorative arts, carved motifs add texture and meaning. In architecture, carved ornaments adorn capitals, friezes, and portals. In cultural contexts, carved figures, totems, and religious icons carry symbolic significance. The technique may involve chisels, gouges, knives, and mallets; some forms rely on incising or engraving rather than removing a broad swath of material.

In everyday language, carved often describes meat, fruit, or vegetables that have been cut into decorative shapes for serving, as in carved turkey or carved pumpkins. The term is also used in jewelry to describe carved gemstones or beads. The usage varies by material and tradition, but the essential idea is alteration by removing material to create form.