1. 削减：Whitsunday 降灵节 | whittle down 削减 | whittle 切
2. 切, 削, 削减, 损害：chronic adj. 慢性的, 延续很长的 chronic overcapacity | whittle v. 切, 削, 削减, 损害 whittle down | anecdotal adj. 轶话的,多轶事趣闻的,轶事一样的 anecdotal indicators
3. 削减; 削弱：Whitsuntide 圣神降临周 (名) | whittle away 削减; 削弱 | whittle down 削减; 削弱
1. 逐渐减少;逐渐压缩…的人数
To whittle down a group or thing means to gradually make it smaller.
e.g. He had whittled eight interviewees down to two...
他已经逐渐将参加面试的人数由8人减少到2人。
e.g. By September, they will have whittled the list down to a winner...
9月之前他们会从名单中确定出最后的赢家。