I. ˈskəlpchə(r), -psh- noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English, from Latin sculptura, from sculptus (past participle of sculpere to carve, alteration of scalpere to carve, cut) + -ura -ure — more at shelf
1.
a.
(1) : the act, process, or art of carving, cutting, hewing, molding, welding, or constructing materials into statues, ornaments, or figures
(2) : the act, process, or art of producing figures or groups in plastic or hard materials
b.
(1) : work produced by sculpture : the body of primarily three-dimensional works of art
an exhibit of painting and sculpture
(2) : a carved or molded statue or figure ; broadly : a nonfunctional work of art whose aesthetic effect depends primarily on three-dimensional relationships
a forged steel sculpture
2. archaic : an engraved figure or design
published his play with sculptures and a preface — Samuel Johnson
3. : impressed or raised markings or the pattern of such markings on the surface of a plant or animal part
4. : a modification of the forms of the earth's surface by sculpturing
II. verb
( sculptured ; sculptured ; sculpturing -pchəriŋ, -psh(ə)r- ; sculptures )
transitive verb
1.
a.
(1) : to form an image or representation of with a chisel or other tool from wood, stone, metal, or other material
(2) : to carve, engrave, mold, weld, or construct (plastic or hard materials) into a primarily three-dimensional work of art
(3) : to cover or adorn with sculpture or carved work
b. : to mold or form so as to give the appearance of sculpture or bas relief
a sculptured hairdo
an automobile body of sculptured metal
c. : to cause (as a line) to flow in the manner of classic sculpture
2. : to develop sculpturesque qualities in (as a musical or literary work or a painting) ; specifically : to mold from the basic aesthetic matter rather than adorn by extraneous ornament
3. : to change (the form of the earth's surface) by erosion or by erosion and deposition
the sculpturing of a canyon by a river
intransitive verb
: to work as a sculptor