Meaning & use
carpenter
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Meanings
nouncountable
A craftsperson who cuts, shapes and fits wood to build things such as house frames, doors and furniture.
Grammar: Has a plural: skilled carpenters.
Patterns
- a carpenter by trade
- a master carpenter
The carpenter measured twice before cutting the beam.
My father worked as a carpenter for thirty years.
We hired a carpenter to build shelves in the study.
verbtransitive or intransitiverare
To work with wood by making or repairing things from it.
Grammar: Rare as a verb; the noun is far more common.
Patterns
- carpenter something
He carpentered a small bookcase for his daughter.
She spent the summer carpentering and painting the cabin.
The men carpentered the frame of the barn by hand.
Word forms
| plural | carpenters |
|---|---|
| third person singular | carpenters |
| past tense | carpentered |
| -ing form | carpentering |
Common combinations
- a skilled carpenter
- A skilled carpenter fitted the staircase perfectly.
- hire a carpenter
- We hired a carpenter to repair the rotting window frames.
- a master carpenter
- The cathedral roof was built by a master carpenter.
- carpenter's pencil
- He marked the board with a flat carpenter's pencil.
- carpenter's tools
- The carpenter's tools hung neatly on the wall.
- trained as a carpenter
- She trained as a carpenter before becoming an architect.
Synonyms and how they differ
- joiner
- A joiner (British) makes finished wooden items such as windows and stairs in a workshop, while a carpenter often works on site on structures.
- woodworker
- Woodworker is broader and covers hobbyists and makers of small objects, not just building trades.
- cabinetmaker
- A cabinetmaker produces fine furniture and cabinets, so the work is more delicate than general carpentry.
- builder
- A builder oversees construction using many materials, whereas a carpenter specializes in wood.
Word family
- carpentry noun
- the work or skill of a carpenter
- carpentered adjective
- made by carpentry, rare
- carpenter ant noun
- a large ant that tunnels through wood
- carpenter bee noun
- a bee that digs nests in wood
Commonly confused: carpenter or joiner?
carpenter vs joiner
In British English, a joiner makes wooden fittings in a workshop and a carpenter builds structures on site; American usage often just says carpenter.
Practice
We need a ______ to build the wooden frame of the extension.
Choose one answer.
A carpenter works with wood and builds frames. A plumber handles pipes, an electrician wiring, and a gardener plants.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “carpenter”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.