incise

verb

in·​cise in-ˈsīz  -ˈsīs 

incised; incising

transitive verb

1

a

: to carve (something, such as an inscription) into a surface

b

: to carve figures, letters, or devices into : engrave

2

: to cut into

Synonyms of incise

• etch
• inscribe
• engrave
• carve

Examples of incise in a Sentence

The design is incised into the clay.

The clay is incised to create a design.

Recent Examples on the Web

The old temples of Tamil Nadu are a treasure-trove of forms incised on stone or magicked from brass, and lavished daily with fruit and flowers, incense and sandalwood, music and light. — Chandrahas Choudhury, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 July 2026

According to testimony from a preliminary hearing held last year, the victim sustained 27 stab or incise wounds to both the front and back of her head, torso, arms and legs. — City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 June 2026

The unique 18-karat gold bangle is designed as an ovoid form incised with Fontana’s signature slash motif and mounted on a curved band. — Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026

And thus began Gates’s decades-long engagement with Drake’s work, which has included a 2010 exhibition at the Milwaukee Art Museum that included a book of hymns responding to the poems David had incised into several of his vessels. — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 20 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle French or Latin; Middle French inciser, from Latin incisus, past participle of incidere, from in- + caedere to cut

First Known Use

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for incise

• advise
• applies
• apprise
• arise
• assize
• baptize
• belies
• bitwise
• capsize
• chastise
• chordwise
• clockwise

Kids Definition

incise

verb

in·​cise in-ˈsīz 

incised; incising

: to cut into : carve, engrave

Medical Definition

incise

transitive verb

in·​cise in-ˈsīz  -ˈsīs 

incised; incising

: to cut into : make an incision in

incised the swollen tissue