etch

¹etch

verb \ˈech\

Definition of ETCH

transitive verb

1

a : to produce (as a pattern or design) on a hard material by eating into the material's surface (as by acid or laser beam) b : to subject to such etching

2

: to delineate or impress clearly <scenes etched in our minds> <pain was etched on his features>

intransitive verb

: to practice etching

— etch·er noun

Examples of ETCH

1. etched an identification number on the back of the television
2. glass that has been etched with an identification number

Origin of ETCH

Dutch etsen, from German ätzen to etch, corrode, from Old High German azzen to feed; akin to Old High German ezzan to eat — more at eat

First Known Use: 1634

Related to ETCH

Synonyms: engrave, grave, incise, inscribe, insculp [archaic]

Related Words: carve, chisel, sculpt, sculpture; chase, groove, indent, notch; score, trace; affix, impress

Near Antonyms: blot out, erase, expunge, obliterate

see all synonyms and antonyms

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Rhymes with ETCH

catch, fetch, fletch, ketch, kvetch, lech, letch, retch, sketch, stretch, vetch, wretch