Dictionary
Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.
whittle down en · VERB
Meanings
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(transitive) To reduce gradually by removing pieces.
To Ukraine, it has become an important line to hold, both to whittle down Russia’s forces and to deprive them of a victory.
2023 March 30, Carlotta Gall, “Ukrainians in a Hidden Command Post See Bakhmut Going Their Way”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:Only simple men can see the logic in whatever smarter men can whittle down till you can fit it on a sticker.
2015, Mike Cooley, “Made Up English Oceans”, in English Oceans, performed by Drive-By Truckers:
Forms
Deriveds
whittle down to size