To whittle is to shape wood by carving off small pieces with a knife, usually in a slow, careful way. The word can metaphorically extend to reducing something bit by bit, as if trimming it down to its essentials. There's a steady rhythm to whittling, whether you're working with your hands or refining an idea.
Example: The quiet man sat on the porch to whittle a small bird figurine from a cedar block.
Have you ever heard of a helicopter parent? How about a lawnmower parent? We have all the words you need to talk about different parenting styles and how they've evolved over the years.
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