Improved a carving with direction (4,2)
I believe the answer is:
came on
'improved' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both related to change as well as being past participle verbs.
Perhaps there's an association between them I don't understand?
'a carving with direction' is the wordplay.
'a carving' becomes 'cameo' (cameo is a kind of carving).
'with' says to put letters next to each other.
'direction' becomes 'N' (N is an example).
'cameo'+'n'='CAME ON'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for came on that I've seen is " entered the stage".)