WordGarden.iostatue
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /stˈætʃuː/
US
- /ˈstæˌtʃu/
Meanings
Noun
a carved, cast, or modeled three-dimensional representation of a person, animal, or thing
Beyond the definition
A statue is a three-dimensional figure of a person, an animal, or sometimes a god or goddess. It is often made to honor someone, remember an event, or decorate a place. Think of the Statue of Liberty: she stands tall as a famous symbol of freedom. You can find statues in city squares, parks, museums, temples, and gardens. They are usually made from strong materials like stone, metal, wood, or marble, so they can last a long time. You might also say someone is "like a statue" when they are standing very still.
The word "statue" often brings to mind a figure standing silently in a park, a square, or a museum. A statue is a three-dimensional image of a person, an animal, or a divine being, usually made by carving, shaping, or casting material such as stone, marble, metal, wood, or bronze. Many statues are created to honor important people, mark events, express religious belief, or beautify a public or private space. Think of the bronze figures in city squares, the marble forms in museums, or the stone figures placed in temples and gardens.
However, not all statues are large public monuments. Some are small and are kept in homes, gardens, or places of worship. They may look realistic, showing fine details of a face, body, or animal, or they may be more stylized while still clearly showing a figure. The size and purpose can vary a lot, but the central idea stays the same: a statue gives solid, lasting form to a living being or a being people imagine and value.
The act of making a statue is part of sculpture, and the artist is called a sculptor. A statue can tell a story, show respect, preserve memory, or stand as a symbol for a community or nation. In everyday language, the word also appears in comparisons such as "as still as a statue," which suggests complete stillness. Whether it is huge and famous or small and personal, a statue usually carries both visual meaning and emotional weight.
Examples
- 1
Town landmark
We stopped to take a photo beside the statue in the town square.
- 2
Desk decoration
There was a small statue of a cat on her desk.
- 3
Museum collection
The museum has several statues from ancient Greece.
- 4
Public tribute
A bronze statue of the singer was unveiled outside the theater last year.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Figurative stillness
He stood so still that he looked like a statue.
- Phraselook like a statue
be very still and not move
See also
Forms and spellings
2 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- statuenoun
Forms
- statuespluralnoun