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

Rhymes with ETCH

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

²etch

noun

Definition of ETCH

1

: the action or effect of etching a surface

2

: a chemical agent used in etching

First Known Use of ETCH

1896

Other Fine Arts Terms

Gothic, baroque, bas-relief, limn, oeuvre, pastiche, rococo, sfumato