whittle
/ˈwɪtl; ?@ ˈhwɪ-; `hwɪtl/ v
1
(a) [Ipr, Tn]
~ (at) sth cut thin slices or strips off (wood, etc) 削（木头等）.
(b) [Tn, Tn.pr]
~ A (from B); ~ B (into A) make or shape (sth) by doing this 削成（某物）
whittling a tent-peg from a branch/a branch into a tent-peg 把树枝削成帐篷钉.
2 (phr v) whittle sth away gradually remove or decrease sth 逐渐削减某事物
Inflation has whittled away their savings. 通货膨胀蚕食了他们的积蓄. whittle sth down
(a) make sth thinner by cutting off fine slices with a knife 用刀将某物削薄.
(b) reduce the size of sth gradually 逐渐减少某事物
The number of employees is being whittled down in order to reduce costs. 为节省开支现正逐渐裁员.