to ponder; to mull over; to think through; Taiwan pr. [zhuo2 mo2]

to cut (gems)

used in 琢磨[zuo2 mo5]; Taiwan pr. [zhuo2]

to sculpt; to carve (jade); ornate artwork; overly elaborate prose

lit. cutting and polishing (idiom); fig. to learn by exchanging ideas or experiences

see 精雕細刻|精雕细刻[jing1 diao1 xi4 ke4]