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

That’s not unlike classical diffraction gratings, whose periodic etchings split light into different colors and directions. — IEEE Spectrum, 18 June 2026

The etchings were collected in Six Fairy Tales from the Brothers Grimm with Illustrations by David Hockney, published in 1970 by London’s Petersburg Press. — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 15 June 2026

In Dish Jockey, an etching from 1993, a harried woman in a bandanna (shades of Rosie the Riveter) scrubs dishes while an ensemble of Tinkerbell-like housekeepers complete other chores nearby. — Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 2 June 2026

Some examples from Myers include the subtle etching in marble, the soft wear of limestone, the lived-in texture of linen, or the subtle fading and marks that form in hardwood floors. — Lacey Ramburger, The Spruce, 2 June 2026

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