sculpture

1.nounB1

Definition

objects or figures made by cutting, shaping, or combining hard materials such as stone, wood, clay, or metal into three-dimensional forms; also the art or practice of producing such works

Example

The local museum added a bronze sculpture of a dancer to its collection.

collocation: bronze sculpture

Putri studied sculpture at university and later opened her own studio.

sculpture as a subject of study

Common collocations

bronze sculpture
stone sculpture
marble sculpture
wooden sculpture
contemporary sculpture
abstract sculpture
clay sculpture
life-sized sculpture

Synonyms

statue
a sculpture of a person or animal, usually life-size or larger and freestanding
carving
a sculpture made by cutting away material from a solid block
figurine
a small ornamental sculpture of a human or animal, often detailed

Grammar Patterns

sculpture as uncountable: She studied sculpture.

a sculpture (countable): He made a sculpture.

Usage Note

Can be used as an uncountable noun referring to the art form ('She prefers sculpture over painting') or as a countable noun referring to an individual work ('She created three sculptures for the exhibition').

Common Mistakes

The sculpture art was displayed in the hall.

The sculpture was displayed in the hall.

'sculpture' already implies a work of art, so 'art' is redundant.

She made a sculpture statue of a lion.

She made a sculpture of a lion.

'statue' and 'sculpture' together are repetitive; choose one.

1.verbtransitiveB2

Definition

to produce a three-dimensional form or figure by working a solid material such as stone, wood, clay, or metal

Example

Noa sculptured a small figure of a dog out of modeling clay.

sculpture + out of + material

Adaeze sculptured a bust of her grandmother from a block of marble.

sculpture + from + material

Common collocations

sculpture from marble
sculpture out of wood
sculpture a figure
sculpture a bust

Synonyms

carve
to cut a material into a shape, especially wood or stone, by removing pieces
mold
to shape a soft material like clay into a form, usually by hand
sculpt
the more common verb form with the same meaning

Grammar Patterns

sculpture + object + from/in/out of + material

Usage Note

The verb 'sculpt' is far more common in everyday English; 'sculpture' as a verb has a more formal or literary tone. In casual conversation, say 'carved a figure' or 'made a sculpture' instead.

Common Mistakes

He sculptured a sculpture of a horse.

He sculptured a horse.

Avoid using 'sculpture' as both the verb and the object; it sounds repetitive.

2.verbtransitiveB2

Definition

to give a specific shape to a hard material by cutting pieces away or pressing it into form

Example

Erik carefully sculptured the soft clay into a smooth, rounded bowl.

sculpture + into + shape

Wind and rain had sculptured the limestone cliffs over many centuries.

figurative use with natural forces as subject

Common collocations

sculpture into a bowl
sculpture the surface
sculpture by wind
sculpture by erosion

Synonyms

shape
to give a form to something, a more general term covering many methods
carve
to cut away material to create a form, especially in wood or stone
fashion
to make or shape something, often with skill and care

Grammar Patterns

sculpture + object + into + shape

Usage Note

This sense is frequently used figuratively with natural forces such as wind, water, or erosion as the subject, describing how they shape landscapes over time.

Common Mistakes

She sculptured the clay into a shape of a bowl.

She sculptured the clay into a bowl.

'shape of a' is redundant; use the direct object form.

3.verbintransitiveC1

Definition

to earn a living or spend time creating sculptures as one's main artistic activity

Example

Benjamin has sculptured professionally for the past fifteen years.

Maja sculptured in bronze for galleries across Europe and Asia.

sculpture + in + material for professional work

Common collocations

sculpture professionally
sculpture in bronze
sculpture full-time
sculpture for galleries

Grammar Patterns

sculpture + adverbial of time or place

Usage Note

This intransitive sense is rare in everyday conversation. The more natural phrasing is 'works as a sculptor' or 'makes sculptures for a living.'

Word family

sculptor
nounB1
sculptural
adjectiveB2
sculpt
verbB1
sculpting
nounB2
sculpted
adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

A sculpture is any three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining materials — the broadest term of the group. A statue is a specific type of sculpture that represents a person, animal, or deity, usually life-size or larger and freestanding. A carving is a sculpture made by cutting away material from a solid block, typically wood, stone, or ivory, rather than by building up or modeling. A figurine is a small ornamental sculpture of a human or animal, often mass-produced and used for decoration. For example, Michelangelo's David is both a sculpture and a statue (a large human figure), while a small ceramic cat on a shelf is a figurine but not a statue. A wooden bird carved from a single block of oak is a carving, but any of these can correctly be called a sculpture.

sculpture ↗statue ↗carvingfigurine

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

work of sculpture
piece of sculpture
sculpture garden
sculpture park

Prepositions

from
in
out of
into

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word entered English in the late 14th century from French 'sculpture', which itself came from Latin 'sculptūra' (a carving, a sculpture), derived from 'sculpere' (to carve, cut, engrave). The Latin root is related to 'scalpere' (to scratch, cut).

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sculpture

sculpture — noun

1. objects or figures made by cutting, shaping, or combining hard materials such as

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

sculpture — verb

1. to produce a three-dimensional form or figure by working a solid material such a

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. to give a specific shape to a hard material by cutting pieces away or pressing i

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. to earn a living or spend time creating sculptures as one's main artistic activi

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

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