n.

1. death of a person
   
   • he went to his grave without forgiving me
   • from cradle to grave
2. a place for the burial of a corpse (especially beneath the ground and marked by a tombstone);
   tomb
   
   • he put flowers on his mother's grave
3. a mark (`) placed above a vowel to indicate pronunciation;
   grave accent

v.

1. shape (a material like stone or wood) by whittling away at it;
   sculpt, sculpture
   
   • She is sculpting the block of marble into an image of her husband
2. carve, cut, or etch into a material or surface;
   scratch, engrave, inscribe
   
   • engrave a pen
   • engraved the winner's name onto the trophy cup
   • the lovers scratched their names into the bark of the tree

adj.

1. dignified and somber in manner or character and committed to keeping promises;
   sedate, sober, solemn
   
   • a grave God-fearing man
   • a quiet sedate nature
   • as sober as a judge
   • a solemn promise
   • the judge was solemn as he pronounced sentence
2. causing fear or anxiety by threatening great harm;
   dangerous, grievous, serious, severe, life-threatening
   
   • a dangerous operation
   • a grave situation
   • a grave illness
   • grievous bodily harm
   • a serious wound
   • a serious turn of events
   • a severe case of pneumonia
   • a life-threatening disease
3. of great gravity or crucial import; requiring serious thought;
   grievous, heavy, weighty
   
   • grave responsibilities
   • faced a grave decision in a time of crisis
   • a grievous fault
   • heavy matters of state
   • the weighty matters to be discussed at the peace conference