whittle
/ˈhwɪtl/verb
with obj.
1- carve (wood) into an object by repeatedly cutting small slices from it雕, 削（木头）。
1.1
- carve (an object) from wood in this way将木雕成, 削制（物品）。
1.2
whittle something away/down
reduce something in size, amount, or extent by a gradual series of steps削弱, 削减：the shortlist of fifteen was whittled down to five
15人的候选名单最后削减为5人
no obj. the censors had whittled away at the racy dialogue.审查员们对下流的对话内容进行了删减。
词源
mid 16th cent.: from dialect whittle 'knife'.