sculpture

1 of 2

noun

sculp·​ture ˈskəlp-chər How to pronounce sculpture (audio)
1
a
: the action or art of processing (as by carving, modeling, or welding) plastic or hard materials into works of art
b(1)
: work produced by sculpture
(2)
: a three-dimensional work of art (such as a statue)
2
: impressed or raised markings or a pattern of such especially on a plant or animal part

sculpture

2 of 2

verb

sculptured; sculpturing ˈskəlp-chə-riŋ How to pronounce sculpture (audio)
ˈskəlp-shriŋ

transitive verb

1
a
: to form an image or representation of from solid material (such as wood or stone)
b
: to form into a three-dimensional work of art
2
: to change (the form of the earth's surface) by natural processes (such as erosion and deposition)
3
: to shape by or as if by carving or molding

intransitive verb

: to work as a sculptor

Examples of sculpture in a Sentence

Noun a sculpture of an elephant an exhibit of African sculpture Verb the artist used a hammer and chisel to sculpture the horse out of ice
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
An Elusive American Artist: Joan Jonas’s maximalist, category-defying work combines video, performance, folklore, sculpture and ecology. Davit Giorgadze Kk Obi, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2024 At the other end of Grafton Street is St. Stephen’s Green, an 18th-century park with benches, duck ponds, and sculptures of Irish historical figures. Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 15 Mar. 2024 Floral sculptures appear throughout the store, including one that is garbed in a silk robe. Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024 This long-running Borrego Springs art show features juried fine art such as paintings, photography, ceramics, sculpture, weaving and jewelry. The San Diego Union-Tribune Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024 Usually, however, these demonstrations involve throwing soup, paint or other substances onto paintings or sculptures covered by protective glass, leaving the works unharmed. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Mar. 2024 No, literally–the Route 66 landmark is home to the world’s largest soda bottle, a 4-ton, 66-foot-tall sculpture (yes, the height was intentional) that comes complete with a giant straw and thousands of multicolor LED lights that put on a sparkling nightly show. Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024 This year’s art show will have sculpture, watercolor, photography, glass pieces and more along with live music and local food vendors. Chyna Blackmon, Charlotte Observer, 4 Mar. 2024 One wall is filled with 80 black-and-white film stills by Mexican cinematographer Gabriel Figueroa as a tribute to the Golden Age of Mexican cinema, while another showcases Mayan sculpture and vases. Ingrid Schmidt, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Mar. 2024
Verb
Co-developed with NISMO, Nissan’s in-house racing and customizing arm, the Hyper-Force’s carbon-fiber body is sculptured like a fighter jet with the sole purpose of going as fast as possible. Peter Lyon, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023 Modeling in clay was a way to process the paintings and sculpture the young man was discovering in the art metropolis of the Western world. Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 23 June 2023 A life-size cow sculptured from butter has been a tradition at the Ohio State Fair since the early 1900s. Polly Campbell, Cincinnati.com, 25 July 2017 Two round medallions that stud this one-of-a-kind Makassar ebony pendant are sculptured from gold. Nancy Hass, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2016

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sculpture.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Latin sculptura, from sculptus, past participle of sculpere to carve, alteration of scalpere to scratch, carve

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1645, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of sculpture was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near sculpture

Cite this Entry

“Sculpture.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sculpture. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sculpture

1 of 2 noun
sculp·​ture ˈskəlp-chər How to pronounce sculpture (audio)
1
: the act, process, or art of carving or cutting hard substances, modeling plastic substances, or casting melted metals into works of art
2
a
: work produced by sculpture
b
: a piece of such work
sculptural
-chə-rəl
-shrəl
adjective

sculpture

2 of 2 verb
sculptured; sculpturing ˈskəlp-chə-riŋ How to pronounce sculpture (audio)
ˈskəlp-shriŋ
1
: to make sculptures
2
: to shape by or as if by carving or molding

More from Merriam-Webster on sculpture

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