sculpture

[ skuhlp-cher ]

noun

1. the art of carving, modeling, welding, or otherwise producing figurative or abstract works of art in three dimensions, as in relief, intaglio, or in the round.
2. such works of art collectively.
3. an individual piece of such work.

verb (used with object)

, sculp·tured, sculp·tur·ing.

1. to carve, model, weld, or otherwise produce (a piece of sculpture).
2. to produce a portrait or image of in this way; represent in sculpture.
3. Physical Geography. to change the form of (the land surface) by erosion.

verb (used without object)

, sculp·tured, sculp·tur·ing.

1. to work as a sculptor.

sculpture

/ ˈskʌlptʃə /

noun

1. the art of making figures or designs in relief or the round by carving wood, moulding plaster, etc, or casting metals, etc
2. works or a work made in this way
3. ridges or indentations as on a shell, formed by natural processes
4. the gradual formation of the landscape by erosion

verb

1. also intr to carve, cast, or fashion (stone, bronze, etc) three dimensionally
2. to portray (a person, etc) by means of sculpture
3. to form in the manner of sculpture, esp to shape (landscape) by erosion
4. to decorate with sculpture

Derived Forms

• ˈsculptural, adjective
• ˈsculpturally, adverb

Other Words From

• sculptur·al adjective
• sculptur·al·ly adverb
• non·sculptur·al adjective
• non·sculptur·al·ly adverb
• re·sculpture verb (used with object) resculptured resculpturing
• un·sculptur·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sculpture¹

1350–1400; Middle English (noun) < Latin sculptūra, equivalent to sculpt ( us ) (past participle of sculpere to carve) + -ūra -ure

Word History and Origins

Origin of sculpture¹

C14: from Latin sculptūra a carving; see sculpt

Example Sentences

DaMart picked up a clay butterfly sculpture engraved with the 11-year-old’s name.

From Los Angeles Times

Born and raised in Redondo Beach, Aitken sprang from ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena to an early career in New York, playing with sculpture, light displays, performance, film and other media.

From Los Angeles Times

“Go into a store you’ve never seen, take the time to look at a sculpture, stop at that church. The key is to feel like you’ve learned more about Los Angeles. I still learn things. I still see things I’ve never seen before.”

From Los Angeles Times

The Bjork sculpture is found in the Season 2 episode “The Bracebridge Dinner,” which also features a snow-laden sleigh ride.

From Los Angeles Times

“Let’s Fly” exhibition, are striped, spotted, shaped like doughnuts and light up in the night sky like condensed, dirigible versions of Ugo Rondinone’s “Seven Magic Mountains” sculpture.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• sculpt