Could you please tell me the meaning of this sentence?
The statue was made using a big piece of solid marble, and Michelangelo just "chipped away at the block".
Does it mean "Michelangelo took small pieces away from the marble block?

I found this in a dictionary website and confused! :

" chip away : To reduce or make progress on something incrementally; ex.: We chipped away until the problem was solved "

Thanks in advance.Could you please explain the example the dictionary has offered!

Question

Could you please tell me the meaning of this sentence? 
The statue was made using a big piece of solid marble, and Michelangelo just "chipped away at the block".
Does it mean "Michelangelo took small pieces away from the marble block?

I found this in a dictionary website and confused! :

" chip away : To reduce or make progress on something incrementally; ex.: We chipped away until the problem was solved  "

Thanks in advance.Could you please explain the example the dictionary has offered!

Answer

Yes, that is the meaning. The dictionary entry you describe is a more figurative definition. The idea of "chipping away" at a problem suggests the problem is large and the approach to a solution is gradual.

Answer

As Michaelangelo worked with a hammer and chisel at the block of marble, the bits of marble that fell off are called "chips". So we use this noun to create a phrasal verb "chip away (at something)" to mean he literally created the sculpture through the very slow process of knocking off chips from the stone.

As Randy said, your dictionary gave a figurative definition.

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