graving
|grave-ing|
/ˈɡreɪvɪŋ/
(grave)
seriousness or burial place
Etymology
'graving' originates from 'Old English', specifically the verb 'grafan', where the root 'graf-' meant 'to dig or hollow out'.
'graving' changed from Middle English forms such as 'graven' (past participle) and the verb 'grave/graven', derived from Old English 'grafan', and eventually became the modern English form 'graving'.
Initially it meant 'to dig or hollow out', but over time it evolved into senses of 'to incise or engrave' and, in maritime compounds like 'graving dock', to refer to docking/cleaning a ship's hull.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the act or process of graving; the action of engraving or carving.
The graving took several hours because the design was so delicate.
Synonyms
Noun 2
chiefly in maritime use: part of the compound 'graving dock' meaning the dock used for cleaning, repairing, or docking a ship (dry dock).
The vessel was placed in the graving for hull maintenance.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2026/01/11 07:59