etching

noun

etch·​ing ˈe-chiŋ 

1

a

: the action or process of etching

b

: the art of producing pictures or designs by printing from an etched metal plate

2

a

: an etched design

b

: an impression from an etched plate

Examples of etching in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

And the camel etchings give clues to the circumstances of the encounters. —Martin J. Kernan, Scientific American, 30 Sep. 2025

According to Stein, the acid can eat away at the stone’s finish and cause dull spots or etching. —Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 26 Sep. 2025

In these bite-size courses, which can be as short as a week or two, future engineers and technicians can gain critical hands-on experience in clean-room fundamentals or an introduction to topics like lithography or etching. —Gwendolyn Rak, IEEE Spectrum, 25 Sep. 2025

This technique combines traditional with etching, which removes the outer layer of skin instead of cutting all the way through the pumpkin. —Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1634, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing etching

• freeze-etching

Rhymes for etching

• fetching
• retching
• sketching
• stretching

Kids Definition

etching

noun

etch·​ing ˈech-iŋ 

1

a

: the act or process of etching a hard material

b

: the art of printing from an etched metal plate

2

a

: a product of etching

b

: a print made from an etched metal plate