a sculpture representing a human or animal
"The ancient Greek statue depicts Zeus standing atop his chariot."
A three-dimensional work of art, usually representing a person or animal, usually created by sculpting, carving, molding, or casting.
"The ancient marble statue in the museum depicts a hero standing triumphantly on top of a defeated giant."
In plain English: A statue is an image of a person, animal, or thing that has been carved out of stone, metal, or wood and stands still instead of moving like real life.
"We visited the famous statue in the town square that stands on top of a tall pillar."
Usage: A statue is typically an inanimate object made from stone, metal, or other materials rather than a living figure that can move on its own. While the verb "to statue" exists in rare contexts like taxidermy, it is far more common to simply say someone was sculpted into a statue.
To form a statue of; to make into a statue.
"The artist spent years laboring to carve the marble and ultimately succeeded in forming a statue of the ancient hero."
In plain English: To statue something means to make it into an official law by giving it legal force, though this usage is rare and usually confused with the noun form meaning a carved figure of stone or metal.
"The committee decided to statue him with an award for his lifetime achievements in music."
The word entered English via the Old French statue, which came from the Latin statuō meaning "to set up" or "erect." Its original sense referred to an object that was placed upright, aligning with its modern definition of a carved figure.